Week No.

04 Housing (SLUMS)
Lecture No. L-11 ARC425 : Principles of Planning

Introduction to Slums 1

Causes of Slums 2

Effects of Slums 3

Slums Clearance Methods 4

Examples of Slums 5
Week No. 04 Introduction to Slums
Lecture No. L-11
SLUMS
 A heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard and poor
housing and squalor.
1
 An overcrowded and neglected area of a city, usually inhabited by the very poor, in
inferior living conditions. 2
 A slum is an overcrowded and squalid district of a city or town usually inhabited by
the very poor. 3

 Slums can be found in most large cities around the world. 4

 Lack of infrastructure and crowded conditions mean they are often characterized by
disease, disaster and crime. 5
Week No. 04 Introduction to Slums
Lecture No. L-11

DEFINATION OF SLUMS
Social scientists have given different definitions of slums depending on the
angle from which they view the problem. 1

Slum is a building, a group of buildings or area characterized by over-crowding 2

deterioration, in sanitary conditions or absence of facilities or amenities, which
because of these conditions or any of them endangered the health, safety or
morals of the inhabitants of the community. 3

5
Week No. 04 Introduction to Slums
Lecture No. L-11

UN-HABITAT defines a slum household as a group of individuals living under the

same roof in an urban area who lack one or more of the following:
1. Durable housing of a permanent nature that protects against extreme climate 1
conditions.
2. Sufficient living space which means not more than three people sharing the 2
same room.
3. Easy access to safe water in sufficient amounts at an affordable price. 3
4. Access to adequate sanitation in the form of a private or public toilet shared
by a reasonable number of people. 4
5. Security of tenure that prevents forced evictions.
5
Week No. 04 Causes of Slums
Lecture No. L-11 Slow
economic
Rapid Industrialization growth

Population Growth Population

Poverty
Lack of zoning 1

Decentralization More 2
Slums opportunities
Lack of Education in cities
3
Poverty
Government Urban 4
Repair & Maintenance connivance Migration

Inadequate powers Inadequate 5

housing in
cities
Week No. 04 Effects of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

Unhealthy living conditions.

Absence of Social & Cultural Life. 1

Mental outlook of slum dweller is affected. (Develops low moral character) 2

Open areas being attacked. 3

All slum Dwellers loses his ambition. 4

Over crowded areas. Affects the working of schools, hospitals, offices etc, 5
Week No. 04 Slums Clearance Methods
Lecture No. L-11

Improvement Method
Not causing Much Disturbance to slum Dwellers.
Public Utility Services Arrangement will be modified. 1

Complete Removal Scheme

2
Congested areas may be completely cleared out.
Building which are in good condition are retained. 3
Stinking Factories are shifted to suitable areas.
New areas are provided with proper basic amenities. 4
New areas are planned with proper open spaces
5
Week No. 04 Slums Clearance Methods
Lecture No. L-11

Slum Clearance
Demolition of dilapidated dwellings located in a slum (an area of sub-standard,
overcrowded housing occupied by the poor immigrants) 1
Redevelopment
The demolition of an existing building and its replacement by a new building 2

Rehabilitation
3
The repair and improvement of existing structurally sound property
4

5
Week No. 04 Policies/ Approaches
Lecture No. L-11

Housing Improvement
Improvements of dwellings by provision of essential basic amenities
Conservation 1
To retain intact or unchanged. Also meant as ‘Preservation’
2
Environmental Improvements
Main emphasis is to improve environmental conditions 3
Economic Renewal
Improvement of economic conditions of dwellers 4

5
Week No. 04 Examples of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

Barrios – Spain and its colonies in South America

Week No. 04 Examples of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

Dharavi- Mumbai
Week No. 04 Examples of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

Shanty Town - Africa

Week No. 04 Examples of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

Kibera (Africa) – worlds largest slum

Week No. 04 Examples of Slums
Lecture No. L-11

A ghetto – a portion of a city in which members of a minority group live;

especially because of social legal, or economic pressure.- US & Europe