“Revitalization of a Slum Architecture in Modern Society”

Statement of the problem

Slums are an inevitable side effect of any city's long-term growth process,

especially in developing countries. This study aimed to describe and try to redevelop

slum architecture in modern society.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the characteristics that describe slum architecture?

2. what are the effects of modernization in slum areas?

3. What are the impacts of slum architecture in modern society?

Review of Related Literature

A slum is an area characterized by poor buildings in the physical state of

disrepair, a degraded environment in unsanitary conditions, and an absence of basic and

essential facilities such as electricity, potable water, drainage system, schools, health

facilities, and recreational grounds (Olotuah, 2012).

However, Gupta (2014) provided the widest meaning of slums stating that slums

are an unavoidable by-product of the long-term development process of any city. This

development process includes many aspects. For example, the changes brought about in

the target city result in a better quality of life, an improved standard of living,

employment opportunities, etc. which in turn results in excessive migration from

neighboring small towns or rural areas.

Nord (2014) also defines that the living conditions in the slums, or informal

settlements, are often chaotic and unsafe due to lack of overall planning, poor
infrastructural support, poor quality of housing construction, no access to water, poor

sanitary conditions, and the insecure status of residential ownership or tenure.

Moreover, over 1 billion people currently live in slums, with the number of slum

dwellers only expected to grow in the coming decades. The vast majority of slums are

located in and around urban centers in less economically developed countries, which are

also experiencing greater rates of urbanization compared with more developed countries

(Mahabir, et al. 2016). Large slums and squatter communities live illegally on

government and private lands, especially in big cities such as Mumbai, Mexico City,

Manila, Lagos, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt (Olotuah, 2012). According to (Ragrario)

Slums are now scattered over 526 communities in all cities and municipalities of Metro

Manila, housing 2.5 million people on vacant private or public lands, usually along

rivers, near garbage dumps, along railroad tracks, under bridges and beside industrial

establishments.

In addition, Slum upgrading is not simply about water or drainage or housing. It is

about putting into motion the economic, social, institutional, and community activities

that are needed to turn around downward trends in an area. These activities should be

undertaken cooperatively among all parties involved—residents, community groups,

businesses as well as local and national authorities if applicable. One of the key elements

of slum upgrading is legalizing or regularizing properties and bringing secure land tenure

to residents. Ultimately, upgrading efforts aim to create a dynamic in the community

where there is a sense of ownership, entitlement, and inward investment in the area.

(citiesalliance.org).
 REFERENCES

Citiesalliance.org., (n.d.). Slum Upgrading. Brussels, Belgium. UNOPS.

Retrieved from: https://www.citiesalliance.org/slum-upgrading-0

Gupta, R., (2014). Revitalizing the Slums as a Micro Economic Center. Ithaca,

United States. ResearchGate. Retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281315453_Revitalizing_the_Slums_as_a_Mic

ro_Economic_Center

Mahabir, R. et al., (2016). The study of slums as social and physical constructs:

challenges and emerging research opportunities. Virginia, United States. Taylor &

Francis Online. Retrieved from:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681376.2016.1229130

Nord, K., (2014). The Role of the Architect in Slum Upgrading Practices.

Sweden. Lund University. Retrieved from:

https://www.hdm.lth.se/fileadmin/hdm/Education/Undergrad/ABAN06_2014/

The_Role_of_the_Architect_in_Slum_Upgrading_Practices_-_Karin_Nord__4_.pdf

Olotuah, A., (2012). Slums. Akure, Nigeria. ScienceDirect. Retrieved from:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/slums

Ragragio, J., (n.d.). Global Report on Human Settlements; The Challenge of

Slums. London. UN-Habitat. Retrieved from:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/cities/manila.htm