The Role of Actors in Creating Urban Environments and Sustaining Livelihoods (A Case of Commercial Corridors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) (R-9051)

This study focuses on analyzing informal design processes (e.g. through self building and appropriation) in the creation of commercial corridor spaces and spaces for informal economies in urban areas. We investigate these key areas via participatory approaches to architecture and spatial planning. In addition, with respect to the strengths and weaknesses of self built environments and based on what other scholars have studied, there are gaps that this research intends to fill in. These gaps are related to power constellation amongst the key actors in spatial development. These actors include citizens, design professionals, policy makers and government organs to mention a few. Another gap is witnessed in the role of self built spaces and informal design processes in creating cities and sustaining livelihoods in Urban areas. It is vital to analyze the role these phenomena and the actors can play in order for design professionals to tap into the knowledge for future planning and design of cities in view of future dynamics and socio-economic activities. This approach will in the long run compliment the usual topbottom approach which in most cases neglects the citizens so that the spaces that are created become responsive to their needs, culture and socio-economic activities. This study is thus expected to analyze the self built and appropriated spaces in order to document the meanings that are attached to the commercial spaces. This knowledge will be used for proposing new models of urban corridors that are responsive to the various actors needs, future economies and dynamics.

Keywords:Research by design

Disciplines:Architectural engineering, Architecture, Interior architecture, Architectural design, Art studies and sciences