Modern Vernacular is an exhibition showcasing examples of contemporary informal housing in Africa, Asia, and Latin America designed and built without the involvement of architects. The exhibition is titled Modern Vernacular, as the exhibited houses and urban areas are characterized by the use of modern industrial construction materials utilized across different contexts according to local […]

Most of the ongoing extensive urbanization in East Africa is informal and occurs beyond the limits of state control and regulatory systems. The urban majority in the region resides in informal settlements characterized by limited urban planning, construction without formal permits, and lack of formal land titles. Issues with substandard housing, overcrowding, insecure tenure as […]

Few studies have investigated the urban morphology of informal settlements at fine-grain level, limiting effective urban planning and policies targeting such areas. This study presents a high-resolution morphological analysis of five informal settlements located in central areas of major cities in East Africa. The analysis is based on indicators of urban form, statistical comparison, and […]

In sub-Saharan Africa, the urban majorities are financially excluded from the formal housing markets and reside in informal settlements. Limited knowledge on the development of informal settlements compromises the efficacy of urban planning and policies targeting such areas. This study presents an analysis of informal urban land use in four major cities in East Africa, […]

The majority of the ongoing extensive urbanization of East Africa is informal and occurs beyond the limits of state control and regulatory systems. This development is characterized by lack of urban planning, infrastructure provision, and formal rights to the land. Lack of land rights constitutes a major issue within urban development in East Africa, as […]

The majority of the ongoing extensive urbanization of East Africa is informal and occurs beyond the limits of state control and regulatory systems. This development is characterized by lack of urban planning, infrastructure provision, and formal rights to the land. Lack of land rights constitute a major issue within urban development in East Africa, as […]

Mafalala Futures is an architectural debate project that seeks to discuss the future development of informal settlements in Maputo, Mozambique and the wider African context. The project outlines three possible future urban development scenarios for the same area in Maputo based on different positions in urban planning discourse. Thereby the project discusses spatial qualities and […]

Mafalala Futures is an architectural debate project that seeks to discuss the future development of informal settlements in Maputo, Mozambique and the wider African context. The project outlines three possible future urban development scenarios for the same area in Maputo based on different positions in urban planning discourse. Thereby the project discusses spatial qualities and […]

Mafalala Futures is an architectural debate project that seeks to discuss the future development of informal settlements in Maputo, Mozambique and the wider African context. The project outlines three possible future urban development scenarios for the same area in Maputo based on different positions in urban planning discourse. Thereby the project discusses spatial qualities and […]

Born and Raised in the Ghetto is a three-part documentary mini-series about urban life in African slums. Each film portrays a slum neighborhood, focusing on urban characteristics, architecture, culture, everyday life as well as some of the problems that are emblematic of African slums. The films follow a young local man in each location who […]

Casas Melhoradas is an applied research project on housing for low-income groups in the informal settlements of Maputo, Mozambique with a three-fold focus: 1) Improve the quality and reduce the cost of housing through development of alternative construction methods. 2) Initiate sustainable urban development by curtailing urban sprawl and utilizing space and infrastructure more economically […]

This publication contains the works of 3rd year architecture students attending KADK – The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation – Institute of Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape. The students produced the presented material while developing their individual bachelor thesis projects, comprising community center designs in the informal settlement Mafalala, […]