Constructing ordinary places: Place-making in urban informal settlements in Mexico

摘要: Abstract Observers from a variety of disciplines agree that informal settlements account for the majority housing in many cities global South. Urban settlements, usually defined by certain criteria such as self-build housing, sub-standard services, and residents’ low incomes, are often seen problematic, due to associations with poverty, irregularity marginalisation. In particular, despite years research policy, gaps urban theory limited understandings mean they treated outside ‘normal’ considerations, material effects residents including discrimination, eviction displacement. response these this article uses place-making approach explore spatial, social cultural construction place context, order unsettle some assumptions underlying discursive constructions how relate spatial Research was carried out using qualitative, ethnographic methodology two case study neighbourhoods Xalapa, Mexico. Mexico offers fertile ground issues. Despite an extensive land tenure regularisation programme, at least 60 per cent dwellers live colonias populares, characteristics. The found local discourses reveal complex ambivalent views which both reproduce undermine marginalising tendencies relating ‘informality’. A focus on own activities hints prospects rethinking settlements. By capturing messy, dynamic contextualised processes construct places, analytical lens view multiple influences frame them. Informed perspectives critical geography seek capture ‘ordinary’ nature cities, suggests imagining differently, re-evaluate their potential contribution city whole.