The challenges of researching place in informal settlements

Quintana Vigiola, G

The challenges of researching place in informal settlements

Quintana Vigiola, G

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Publisher:: Routledge
Publication Type:: Chapter
Citation:: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods, 2023, pp. 340-348
Issue Date:: 2023-08-24

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Quintana Vigiola, G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4157-5287
dc.contributor.editor	Kamalipour, H
dc.contributor.editor	Aelbrecht, P
dc.contributor.editor	Peimani, N
dc.date.accessioned	2023-10-24T05:24:32Z
dc.date.available	2023-10-24T05:24:32Z
dc.date.issued	2023-08-24
dc.identifier.citation	The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods, 2023, pp. 340-348
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172835
dc.description.abstract	Place is a concept that is studied by several disciplines through various approaches, thus leading to numerous meanings. Urban designers traditionally understand places through a morphological lens. Informal settlements (barrios) all over the world share certain urban forms, yet they are home to different peoples and customs, and are usually situated in different political, economic, and institutional contexts. These non-physical particularities highlight the importance of approaching the investigation of these areas not just from a spatial perspective, but also from a social one. Undertaking social research in barrios comes with several challenges. Thus, this chapter discusses the challenges involved in researching places in barrios settlements, focusing on the case study of Caracas, Venezuela. The discussion focuses on the different aspects and methods applied in research: building rapport, interviewing, engaging in participant observation, the inclusion of audio-visual data, the data collection process and analysis, and the ethical considerations when researching place in barrios. This chapter concludes with the reflection that urban design research (and practice) in these areas should not be “for” people, but “with” people, as they are then the ones creating the meanings and converting the spaces into places.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Routledge
dc.relation.ispartof	The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.4324/9781003168621-38
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.title	The challenges of researching place in informal settlements
dc.type	Chapter
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
utslib.copyright.embargo	2025-02-24T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2023-10-24T05:24:31Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Place is a concept that is studied by several disciplines through various approaches, thus leading to numerous meanings. Urban designers traditionally understand places through a morphological lens. Informal settlements (barrios) all over the world share certain urban forms, yet they are home to different peoples and customs, and are usually situated in different political, economic, and institutional contexts. These non-physical particularities highlight the importance of approaching the investigation of these areas not just from a spatial perspective, but also from a social one. Undertaking social research in barrios comes with several challenges. Thus, this chapter discusses the challenges involved in researching places in barrios settlements, focusing on the case study of Caracas, Venezuela. The discussion focuses on the different aspects and methods applied in research: building rapport, interviewing, engaging in participant observation, the inclusion of audio-visual data, the data collection process and analysis, and the ethical considerations when researching place in barrios. This chapter concludes with the reflection that urban design research (and practice) in these areas should not be “for” people, but “with” people, as they are then the ones creating the meanings and converting the spaces into places.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172835