How the Other Half Builds

This explores the informal housing sector within the context of developing nations, specifically focusing on how impoverished communities self-construct their environments. The author argues that squatter settlements are not merely chaotic slums but represent a sophisticated response to the failure of formal urban planning and market systems. By examining the spatial logic and socio-economic structures of these neighbourhoods, the text highlights how residents utilize limited resources to create functional, albeit unauthorized, living spaces. The study emphasizes that local innovation and community cooperation are essential drivers in providing shelter where government initiatives have fallen short. Ultimately, the work advocates for a deeper understanding of these organic urban processes to better inform future housing policies and global development strategies.

"How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob A. Riis, published in 1890