Lima’s Slums:Problems or Solutions?: Lima’s Slums: Problems or Solutions? Professor Bill Chambers Liverpool Hope University President Geographical Association Annual Conference 30th March 2005 University of Derby


Lecture Structure: Lecture Structure Peru Migration Housing in Lima Growth of Lima Progressive Development Employment Government Policies Hope or Despair?


Slide3: 1. Peru


Slide4: Source: www.politicalresources.net


Slide5: Costa: The Atacama Desert


Peru and UK(World Bank 2004): Peru and UK (World Bank 2004)


Slide7: Peru Three Zones Costa Atacama Desert (driest in the world) Sierra Andes (2nd highest mountains in world) Selva Amazon (largest tropical rainforest in world) Source: Coleccion Huascaran, Lima


Slide8: Sierra: The Andes


Slide9: Selva: The Amazon Basin


Peru: Population by Region: Peru: Population by Region


Slide11: 2. Migration


Primacy of Lima:‘the head of a giant on the body of a dwarf’: Primacy of Lima: ‘the head of a giant on the body of a dwarf’ 29


Reasons for Primacy: Reasons for Primacy capital city (work, culture, civilisation) largest port (Callao) traditional home of Vice-Roy in Colonial


Migration: Migration City centre v Paisanos 40% Costa 50% Andes mainly central-southern Andes young/ambitious earthquakes rural poverty land tenure in Andes infant mortality guerrillas cocaine El Nino modernisation of coast


Slide15: Source: Children in Peru, Peru Support Unit 1991


Slide18: 3. Housing in Lima


Slide19: Callejon


Housing for Lima Poor: Housing for Lima Poor Slums/turgurios and Squatter settlements alleys & tenements (callejones) 64% workers’ housing 20% decaying mansions 11% city plots (corralones) 5% government projects private sector squatter settlements (barriadas)


Squatter Settlements: Squatter Settlements Barriadas Urbanizaciones Populares Urbanisationes Marginales Pueblos Jovenes Asentiamentos Humanos


Barriadas: Barriadas A residential community formed by low income families in which the houses are constructed in large measure by the residents themselves and which are generally but not exclusively formed illegally. (Collins 1975)


Slide24: 4. Growth of Lima


Lima Population Growth: Lima Population Growth


Slide26: Source: J. Matos Mar 1977 Las Barriadas de Lima 1957


Slide27: Source: J. Matos Mar 1977 Las Barriadas de Lima 1967


Slide28: Source: J. Matos Mar 1977 Las Barriadas de Lima 1977


Slide30: San Cristobal Centro cerro


Slide31: Rio Rimac floodplain : Carmen de la Legua and San Martin de Porres 1965 my house


Slide32: Comas 16-3-1945 Andes foothills


Slide33: Comas 1965 my house


Slide34: Southern Atacama desert: Tupac Amaru


Geographical distributionunoccupied, state or church or absentee landlord owned: Geographical distribution unoccupied, state or church or absentee landlord owned


The Invasion: The Invasion After several years residence Pay to join invasion committee Planned by architects Holy Days, National Holidays, Public Holidays, weekends, government crisis Appeal to patriotism or religiosity of nation or landlords


Slide38: 5. Progressive Development (Consolidation) (Positive Adaptation)


Progressive Development : Progressive Development The gradual development of housing community utilities employment. Depends on finance health motivation priorities government policy


Progressive Development of Homes: Progressive Development of Homes chosa (matting hut) peripheral wall internal walls concrete roof second floor more


Slide41: chosas


Slide42: Chosa, foundations and peripheral wall


Slide43: Chosa, shop and peripheral wall


Slide44: Chosa, peripheral wall from casa noble


Slide45: Wood Water cylinder cement bag


Slide46: Roofing: tiles, iron, electricity tubes


Slide47: Roofing concreting


Slide48: Casa noble Carmen de la Legua 1965


Progressive Development(after Turner 1967): Progressive Development (after Turner 1967)


Moving from Carmen de la Legua to Comas: Moving from Carmen de la Legua to Comas Carmen de la Legua 1965 view of my house


Slide51: Carmen de la Legua 1982 view of my house


Slide52: Carmen de la Legua 2003 view of home


Slide53: Carmen de la Legua 1965


Slide54: Carmen de la Legua 1982


Slide55: Carmen de la Legua 2003 By 1974 its transformation into an urban barrio was almost complete – paved roads, uniform lotes, water and electrical services, urban style houses constructed with permanent materials, and a central plaza around which stood municipal buildings, a movie theatre, and a church all were established.’ (Lobo 1982 p 42)


Slide56: Town Hall Carmen de la Legua 2003


Slide57: Comas 1965 view left from front door


Slide58: Comas 1982 view left from front door


Slide59: Comas 2003 view left from front door


Slide60: Comas Avenida Tupac Amaru 1965


Slide61: Comas Avenida Tupac Amaru 1982


Slide62: Comas Avenida Tupac Amaru 2003


Slide63: Maria: Restaurante El Once 1965 and Salon de Belleza 1983 Comas


Slide64: Comas private sector housing 2003


Slide66: 6. Employment


Slide67: Ambulante selling tobacco, chewing gum, sweets


Slide68: Open air office


Slide69: domestica


Slide70: Mobile furniture store


Julio and Helsomina(Susan Lobo 1982): Julio and Helsomina (Susan Lobo 1982) 1969 Belt factory (J) Tailor (J) Kerosene Metal recycling Vegetables at market Wool balls Brick recycling Guinea pigs Chickens Chicha TV 1974 Belt factory Front of house store Beer Zappo Ducks Chicken Goats Sheep Wool Refrigerator Typewriter (daughter) Electric repair (son)


INCOME = : Job + Overtime + Fringe benefits + Part time jobs (cachuelas) + Reciprocity: exchange labour for goods + Reciprocity: exchange labour for labour Varied and flexible repertoire INCOME =


Employment: informal & formal: Employment: informal & formal Informal housefront stores car cleaning domestics ambulantes bootblacks seamstresses artisans repair and creation Formal wages social security drivers Builders waiters clerks shop assistants factory workers


Slide77: 7. Government Policies


Government Policies: Government Policies Do nothing Eradicate: bulldoze, burn Contain: Law Prevent: planning, municipal housing Facilitate: site & service, credit, technical, improve & incorporate Correct: remodel, relocate


Slide79: 8. Hope or Despair? Problem or Solution?


The Informal Approach: The Informal Approach Advantages Cheaper Non-monetary input Early escape from slums Added value to land Stimulated construction and service industries Disadvantages Slow Poor conditions Low quality Uneconomic use of space & resources


Lima’s barriadas Why so successful? (John Turner 2004): Lima’s barriadas Why so successful? (John Turner 2004) When dwellers control the major decisions and are free to make use of their own contributions in the design, construction or management of their housing, both this process and the environment produced stimulate individual and social well-being.


Lima’s barriadas Why so successful? (Susan Lobo 1992): Lima’s barriadas Why so successful? (Susan Lobo 1992) Positive adaptation Build a community (material and spiritual) Accomplish goals View themselves and their future positively Through Kinship and paisanos Alliances and compadrazgo Control: migration & house construction Flexibility


References: References http://comasweb.com Dietz, H. 1998 Urban Poverty, Political Participation and the State: Lima 1970-1990. University of Pittsburgh Press Gilbert, A. 1994 The Latin American City. Latin America Bureau. Lloyd, P. 1979 Slums of Hope? Pelican. Lloyd, P. 1980 The ‘Young Towns’ of Lima. Cambridge University Press. Lobo, S. 1982 A House of My Own. University of Arizona Press. Morrish, M. 1984 Squatter Settlement in the Third World. Geography 16-19. Longman. Smith, C.T. 1988 Population and Development in Peru. John Murray.