lateral housing - 2009

8/14/2019 Lateral Housing - 2009

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Lateral Housing:Informal Settlements in Syria

Sarah Bridges

Affiliated with Architects for Peace(www.architectsforpeace.org)

In 2009’s social-political environment where such intense focus is placed on the

economic policies of the past, there is definitely room for questions to scrutinize systemsof old to pro-actively engage in the future solutions. With ‘bailout’ plans beingimplemented around Australia and the world to fund public projects such as education,housing and infrastructure, a close eye should be cast on these existing systems so wedon’t make the same mistakes. Particular attention is needed on social housing, wherelags in the top-down system have led to a notorious history of long waiting lists andmany simply going without. This article attempts to prompt such questions, by presentinga ‘lateral’ approach to social housing issues. One approach that no doubt has manyflaws yet highlights not only the need of housing in the greater population, but alsopossibilities of an earnest collaboration between communities to achieve results.

Social housing, in its simplest form, is a government managed system that provides

affordable living environments. Yet imagine a state where the bureaucratic principle of social housing never emerges – instead it embraces acommunity-regulated system. This exists in manycommunities around the world, from developing nationsto some of the world’s oldest cities. This phenomenonis recognized in the less diplomatic term: “InformalSettlements”; a system that breaches the “formal”conventions of urban development and is oftensupported by the existence of “Informal Economies”.Unfortunately, it also means that those so served –while gifted with a dwelling that a bureaucracy wouldbe unable to deliver – live in sub-standard housing.

Research shows that most countries have an over demand for social housing, suggesting operationalflaws in the top-down system employed. The result iseither an unrealistic waiting period, (as in Australia), or the manifestation of a non-Local plasterer

Roof scape in Jeremana



regulated ‘informal’ or ‘illegal’ system. Through a field trip conducted in Damascus, Syriain 2003, it became apparent that there is a possibility for dialogue between the formaland informal sectors – a possibility that both systems could learn from each other andexpand on the current approaches to social housing around the world. We travelled toJeremana, originally a green area in the oasis (Ghuta) located on the eastern fringe of Damascus. Today formal and informal dwellings dot the desert floor, slowly devouring

what remains of the precious oasis. Jeremana attracts a range of people; from lessprivileged Damascenes and nationaland international migrants, to, inrecent times, refugees; all looking tobuild a future for their families.Harbouring a hearty mix of culture,religion, language, innovativebuilding and entrepreneurial spirit,Jeremana is truly alive, andfunctions like any other developedsuburb. It is however, classed as an“Informal Settlement”, and as such,

doesn’t receive the equivalentgovernmental support afforded tosuburbs classified as lying within theformal sector. Thus, a process hasemerged that involves inhabitants

taking this responsibility into their own hands.

Today, a sophisticated informal system exists, where locally operated businesses fromboth sectors collaborate to drive both financial and urban development. So how did thiscome to pass? How is it that buildings arebuilt and economies are developing onland which does not belong to the

occupiers, in an arrangement that existsentirely outside of the normal systems of regulation? In Syria, the law once statedthat, if the government evicts anyone froma home and demolishes it, alternativeshelter must be provided.Correspondingly, for the past 50 years inSyria, a house is officially deemedinhabitable when four walls, a roof, andworking plumbing all exist. One can onlyimagine with housing in such highdemand that building inspectors would

often find dwellings erected literallyovernight by groups of families andfriends. Needless to say, this has led to aseries of sub-standard developments andslums, putting many occupants at risk.The exploding population in Damascusneeded an answer, and the government’snormal bureaucratic channels had provenineffective. The Syrian government was forced to stand back and re-evaluate the

rd only sign of greenery from the Oasis

Typical apartment block in Jeremana



situation, and in doing so, implemented an unwritten 30 day grace period for houses tobe built in lieu of the previously recognized 24 hours. This, in turn raised the standard of some houses, but, paradoxically promoted the development of multi-story informaldevelopments. Consequently the government is faced by a situation where almost 1million “informal” dwellers live on the outskirts of Damascus in predominantly sub-standard housing. This situation has continued to escalate over the years while the

government slowly struggles to arrive at a solution.

Jeremana’s long history of housing informality hasgiven rise to a mixture of housing types. There are thelow rise tenements – the original, quickly built “informalhouses” – and the multi storey apartment blocks builtby locally run developers working in the communitywith local estate agents. The key building material isconcrete block, which is also made locally and asimagined varies in quality. Many of the roofs have their reinforcement exposed and protruding, giving thedistinct impression of the possibility of future vertical

expansion. There is a lack of basic amenities, as wellas daylight and ventilation, a disregard for earthquakeproofing, and very often shortcuts have been taken inconstruction methods and materials. However, for many, there remains no alternative.

Whilst on the field trip to Jeremana, we conductedinterviews with the inhabitants— seeking an idea of how they came to reside in the area, and what they

thought of the lifestyle. To our surprise, families had earnest stories of how they werepart of a community financial pooling system, wherein a number of groups had combinedfinances to purchase apartments systematically for each other. This was a sophisticated

system, building strong community spirit and the potential for sustainable futuredevelopment. It was also interesting to note that those families who had input into theway their houses were built, had developed a certain “pride of place”. They had thengone on to continually upgrade their own houses, adding to the character of the area,changing an atmosphere fraught by the temporary and transient, to one characterised bya sense of permanence.

We were able to see a number of positives in the way development hadoccurred.

• Compensation for the formal

sector’s failure to provide basic

shelter, goods and services;• Use labour intensive methods of

construction providing employmentwithin the local neighbourhood;

• Use local materials, and minimal

imported goods;

• Contribute to the national economy

quite significantly; and

Problematic construction techniques

Jeremana Street scape



• Have a certain growth pattern that encourages pride of place, developing a

particular identity and street culture which is not seen in the ‘formal’developments Although these aspects are good for the social nurturing of thearea, the environmental consequences are less advantageous.

Major concerns are:

• The overrunning of the oasis in the area;

• Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification, water pollution;

• Increased scarcity of potable water due to pollution, an exploding population and

high demand

• Sub-standard housing in general due to lack of government infrastructure

• Abuse of the individual within a non-regulated system

This discussion has highlighted the increasing severity of the situation in Damascus dueto the shortcomings of an exhausted social housing system. It is no doubt a systemwhich has unfortunately followed the trajectories of urbanisation and development,characteristic of the contemporary Third World. However, even here, there are lessons of

both flexibility and tolerance which can be applied in the developed world.

The article was based on a study undertaken in an ‘Informal Settlement’ which has developedover time on the outskirts of Damascus. The photos and comments are based on a study tripundertaken in September 2003 and coordinated by Dr. Sonja Nebel from the Technical Universityof Berlin. The trip was made possible through collaboration with the University of Damascus andthe works of Dr.Ghassan El Badwan. Tasks carried out were: a basic drawing survey of aninformal settlement (Jeremana), interviews with the inhabitants, liaison with the local authorities,and further theoretical strategizing for urban planning upgrades to initiate a change for the future.Whilst the situation described is relatively current, it is important to note that it has no doubtchanged due to the recent influx of refugees from Iraq, Lebanon and Israel since the study wasundertaken. This influx has made such a huge impact that, due to the expanding Iraqi refugeepopulation on the area, Jeremana is now dubbed “Karrada”, after the Baghdad district.

Families interviewed in Jeremana

lateral housing - 2009

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