Category: History

The ecology of a slum: Part 6, the future’s flows

16 April, 2009 (10:03) | Ecosystems, History, London, Slums, Theory, United Kingdom | No comments

[Continued from yesterday's Part 5 and the previous Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.]
 
[Editorial justification for the tour: If we want to improve slums, we have to see them as ecosystems – spontaneous self-generated communities, self-organized, economically rational, economically efficient, adaptive and robust.  We may not like the slums (like Dharavi in [...]

The ecology of a slum: Part 5, government flows

15 April, 2009 (09:34) | Ecosystems, History, London, Slums, Theory, Urban Infrastrucure | No comments

[Continued from March 6th’s Part 4, and the previous Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.]
 

[Editorial justification for the tour: If we want to improve slums, we have to see them as ecosystems – spontaneous self-generated communities, self-organized, economically rational, economically efficient, adaptive and robust.  We may not like the slums (like Dharavi in Mumbai, Kibera [...]

When and where modern housing was born

20 March, 2009 (12:53) | Configuration, History, Infrastructure, Innovations, New York City, Tenure, Urbanization | No comments

What defines modern housing?  Tour enough castles, abbeys, and stately homes and it isn’t hard to identify the five critical features:
 

State of the art, thirteenth century
 
1. Central heating rather than fireplaces
2. Running water instead of basins and pitchers
3. Flush toilet and sewer instead of chamber pots and outhouses
4. Bright lighting instead of candles
5. Electricity for [...]

The ecology of a slum: Part 4, family flows

6 March, 2009 (11:14) | Ecosystems, History, London, Slums, Theory, United Kingdom | No comments

[Continued from yesterday's Part 3 and the previous Part 1 and Part 2.]

[Editorial justification for the tour: If we want to improve slums, we have to see them as ecosystems – spontaneous self-generated communities, self-organized, economically rational, economically efficient, adaptive and robust.  We may not like the slums (like Dharavi in Mumbai, Kibera in Nairobi, or Sao [...]

The ecology of a slum: Part 3, work flows

5 March, 2009 (10:43) | Ecosystems, History, London, Slums, Theory, United Kingdom | No comments

[Continued from last week’s Part 2 and Part 1.]
 
[Editorial justification for the tour: If we want to improve slums, we have to see them as ecosystems – spontaneous self-generated communities, self-organized, economically rational, economically efficient, adaptive and robust.  We may not like the slums (like Dharavi in Mumbai, Kibera in Nairobi, or Sao Paulo's favelas) we may [...]