Report from the Habitat Conference 2007: A Safe City is a Just City in Oslo, Norway

1. Habitat
Report
2007
Habitat Norway

2. Habitat Report 2007
Reporting the conference on the World Habitat Day in Oslo
September 29th and October 1st 2007
Edited by Anders Ese
Limited distribution by
Habitat Norway
c/o Polyteknisk Forening
Rosenkrantzgate 7
0159 Oslo
Habitat Norway is a Norwegian non governmental organisation with the overall aim to promote the
interest and awareness of settlement issues around the world. The organisation is a member of
Habitat International Coalition.
Please visit www.habitat-norge.org
We thank the following who made this conference possible;
NORAD Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
KRD Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
The Norwegian State’s Housing Bank
ROM art + architecture
Front page: Villa 21-24, Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. Contents
Introduction p 05
A Safe City is a Just City p 06
Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT
Is a Safe City a Just City? p 11
Prof. Sven Erik Svendsen, NTNU
Saftey as a Pretext for Injustice in the Case of Jerusalem p 17
Øystein Grønning, migrant a+u
Cities - Hopes and Challenges p 25
Erik Berg, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Urban Futures p 31
Prof. Emeritus Nabeel Hamdi, Oxford Brookes University
Villas Miserias - Securing a Safe and Salubrious Community p 37
Eli Grønn, migant a+u
Villas Miserias - Workshop Results p 54
Anders Ese, Co-Chairman, Habitat Norway
Concluding remarks p 68
Dr. Ingun B Amundsen, Co-Chairman, Habitat Norway
List of participants p 70
On the contributors p 74
About Habitat Norway p 76

4. A Safe City
is a Just City

5. Introduction
The United Nations has designated the residents. Rich or poor, everyone has a right
first Monday in October every year as to the city, to a decent living environment, to
World Habitat Day to reflect on the state clean water, sanitation, transport, electricity
of human settlements and the basic and other services. How we manage this is
right to adequate shelter for all. It is arguably one of the greatest challenges facing
also intended to remind the world of its humanity.
collective responsibility for the future of
the human habitat. Another significant threat to urban safety
today is forced eviction and insecurity of
The theme of this year’s World Habitat tenure. Incidents of forced eviction are
Day on Monday 1 October 2007 is A safe regularly reported from all parts of the world.
city is a just city. The United Nations They are often linked to bulldozing of squatter
chose this year’s theme in order to raise settlements and slums in developing countries,
awareness and encourage reflection on as well as to processes of gentrification,
the mounting threats to urban safety beautification and urban redevelopment in
and social justice, particularly urban both developed and developing country cities.
crime and violence, forced eviction and Forced evictions have been highly publicized
insecurity of tenure, as well as natural in recent years, partly because freedom from
and human-made disasters. forced eviction has become recognized as a
fundamental human right within international
One of the most significant causes of fear and human rights law.
insecurity in many cities today is crime and
violence. Between 1990 and 2000, incidents of Disasters, natural and human-made, are yet
violent crime per 100,000 persons increased another current threat to urban safety. Recent
from 6 to 8.8. Recent studies show that over evidence suggests that natural and human-
the past five years, 60 per cent of all urban made disasters are increasing in frequency
residents in the world have been victims of the world over, and that this trend is partly
crime, with 70 per cent in Latin America and linked to climate change. From 1975 to
the Caribbean. Clearly, crime, whether violent 2005, the number of disasters in the world
or not, is a growing and serious threat to increased from 100 to 400 per year. Hurricane
urban safety all over the world. Katrina, the Asian Tsunami and the Pakistan
Earthquake are some of the recent disasters
As the world becomes increasingly urban, it that exposed our woeful lack of preparedness.
is essential that policy­ akers understand the
m
power of the city as a catalyst for national Combined, these three threats to urban safety
development. Cities have to be able to currently pose a huge challenge to both
provide inclusive living conditions for all their national and city governments.
5

6. The Executive Director’s Message
On the Occasion of World Habitat Day
The subject that brings us here today is public transport are typical examples of the
something that touches us all. Crime and underlying factors conducive to crime. While
fear of crime is growing unacceptably fast crime remains a key conventional dimension of
at a time half of humanity is now living urban safety, today safety is about increasing
in towns and cities. There is no doubt choices so that everyone can move freely
too, that today most crime and violence without threat, harassment, sexual assault,
occurs in cities. And this is the reason, as rape, or intimidation.
I said in my special statement for World
Habitat Day 2007, we decided to choose I do not have to tell you that crime is bad
the theme, A safe city is a just city, to for business and bad for development.
mark the occasion. In an unacceptably high number of cities
around the world, soaring crime levels, and
As we witness the fastest growth of urban even perceptions of high crime, threaten to
populations yet known, we are now at outweigh other advantages they may offer. For
the dawn of a new urban era. With half of slum residents, who usually do not enjoy the
humanity already living it towns and cities, benefits of any form of security, violence and
it is projected that by 2030, that figure will crime loom ever ready to shatter their lives.
rise to two-thirds. Another feature of our new As violent men capture the streets, the choices
urban age is that the global number of slum for women are considerably diminished. They
dwellers is now set this year to top the 1 simply do not want to take a chance using
billion mark. a public toilet, collecting water, or walking
through a criminal male danger zone on the
Promoting urban safety at this turning point way home, to school or the shops.
in history is not primarily about policing
and relying on the penal system for crime Persistent crime and fear of crime undermines
prevention; it is about the design and planning public trust in the authorities. And thus in
of public space for women and men, and its many cities, local neighborhoods turn to
impact on social urban development. While alternative protection – private companies,
conventional methods have focused more vigilante groups, and gated zones. Worse still,
on the laws, community policing, or security they turn away from young people, and tarnish
personnel to guard communities, less attention them with the blame for these problems,
has been focused on the other missing link of instead of engaging them. Urban danger
public safety – urban design and governance comes from many complex factors. These
of cities. Poorly lit or dark streets and poor include lack of opportunity, widening inequity,
6

7. territorial segregation, economic polarisation, The situation I have just outlined is largely
poor urban planning, and social exclusion. the reason why UN-HABITAT, as the agency
Likewise, drugs, guns, organized crime, and for the built environment, launched its Safer
poor crime prevention. And so, unfortunately, Cities Programme in 1996 to create a culture
it is all too obvious that recent international of prevention anchored in helping local
terror attacks increasingly target cities. authorities, the criminal justice system, the
private sector, urban planners, and civil society
In many countries, safety, security and justice partners address urban safety. As UN-HABITAT
are outside the purview of local authorities and and governments that oversee the agency’s
are highly centralized. Enhancing the role of work programme hone a new strategic plan
local government as well as local communities for 2008-2013, there is general agreement on
and in particular the youth of these four points:
communities, is recognized as an important Firstly, that governance at the local level
first step to improvements in many aspects must continue looking at crime prevention.
of safety, security and justice. At the third Local crime prevention strategies must be
session of UN-HABITAT’s World Urban Forum incorporated in urban development planning,
in Vancouver in June last year, one of our and this must have full political backing.
keynote speakers, Ms. Katherine Sierra, Vice- Secondly, that bridging the gap between urban
President and Network Head, Infrastructure, interventions and crime prevention can be
at the World Bank, recalled that 30 years ago, achieved by incorporating prevention policies
safety and security would not have even been into slum upgrading and housing policies.
mentioned as a building block for an urban Thirdly, that public spaces in cities have to be
strategy. In remarks that constitute a most apt better managed. Derelict public urban spaces
explanation of the theme of World Habitat Day are a dramatic indicator of the failure of
this year, she said, and I quote: planning and governance.
Fourthly, that civil society, especially youth and
“A key policy challenge is how to balance women, must be fully engaged in any crime
safety and security within a political or social prevention strategy.
system and a regulatory environment that is
conducive to economic growth. Safety, law Experience shows that local policies, targeted
enforcement, and the justice system are thus to key problems and root causes, can be very
key public goods. The legislative and justice effective against violence and lawlessness.
systems, along with enforcement entities,
become key institutions.”
7

8. Given the many differences in culture, I sense a strong emerging view in this new
geography, wealth, political systems and size urban era that the political will is now growing,
of cities, there will always be problems. But in at both the national and local level in many
the modern world we do have solutions. And I countries, to make our cities safe and just
wish to conclude these remarks by informing places for all.
you that the situation is not altogether gloomy.

9. Anna Tibaijuka
Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations and Executive Director
UN-HABITAT

10. Key Speakers

11. Is a Safe City a Just City?
According to the UN-Habitat in Nairobi, However - every time the president got
who is - so to speak - in charge of the prominent visitors or arranged one of these
Habitat Day, the objective is to reflect on huge regional conferences, the police or
the state of human settlements and on army cleared the pavements for unwanted
the basic right to adequate shelter for all. elements normally on early morning ahead
This year’s choice of theme - A safe city of the arrangements. They just gathered
is a just city - is topical and is selected these people – pavement sleepers, hawkers,
in order to raise awareness and to beggars or simply somebody who was early
encourage reflection and discussion on out of bed just to buy a newspaper – in camps
the increasing threats to urban safety somewhere in the city outskirts. They were not
and social justice, particularly from urban arrested but allowed to leave as soon as they
crime and violence, forced eviction and could prove their identity; with a certain level
insecurity of tenure, as well as natural of bureaucracy it took normally the same time
and man-made disasters. to get out of the camp as to arrange a regional
conference. So in that way it worked nicely.
If I right away should try to answer the But did the capital become a safer city during
question heading this presentation - if the these days? Probably yes – especially if you
safe city is a just city? – it will obviously anticipate that some terrorists would hide
be: IT DEPENDS ON, or it is in other among the hawkers and pavements sleepers.
words circumstantial. But did it become a more just city? Probably
In many ways one could say that as a not.
slogan the heading is problematic – and
that it probably needs more than a brief This example shows that there is for the
talk to be properly dealt with. authorities in charge of safety – for visitors
and inhabitants – a problematic issue to face:
Let me give you an example to show what I how do you secure the urban population
mean: without renouncing their rights?
Some years back I lived for a while in an Asian
capital; it was a fairly safe city – and I can -
say this because on workdays I mainly moved
about on foot – as a pedestrian from where Normally we consider that democratic national
I stayed to the place of work in the morning and local frameworks provide safer urban
and back again in the evening. In order to get environments, but we know that on one hand
better acquainted with the city I tried to select cities in totalitarian states are often very
different routes every day - early mornings safe, and on the other if we try to compare
and sunsets are in addition very pleasant two big cities: Johannesburg and Mumbai we
times for walking in that part of the world. would probably find that the first one is a very
11

12. unsafe city – almost both day and night – and responses were something that should worry
certainly for visitors, while Mumbai seems like people in other places – and not us.
a pleasant and friendly place to be in – at least
that’s my impression. They are both large At that time – to be a little nostalgic - you
entities in democratic states with – in many could walk in to most buildings in the city
ways - well functioning local municipalities. – corporate or public; now this is almost
So it must be something else that makes the impossible without an appointment or a code.
difference; architects may claim that it has At that time you could visit the parliament
something to do with the physical environment only by mentioning any MPs name to the
and with planning and design, while political receptionist; you hardly left any electronic
scientists would like to explain such differences traces and you could move about anonymously
with structural organization, anthropologist – which used to be one definition of city life.
with cultural background and so on.
Most likely it is a complex combination of Now we have cameras watching us wherever
many factors. we go, private security people have to a large
degree replaced the police and are in many
- places following your movements closely and
it is almost impossible to get into anywhere
One of the most significant causes of fear without an appointment – apart from shops
and insecurity in many cities today is the and restaurants.
combination of crime and violence. In the
10 years between 1990 and 2000, incidents -
of violent crime in cities increased by 1/3
according to the UN-Habitat. Recent studies The situation for the citizens has changed
show that over the past five years, 60 per cent dramatically when it comes to free movement.
of all urban residents in the world have been May be the city has become more safe, but it
victims of crime, with 70 per cent in Latin has certainly not become more pleasant - or
America and the Caribbean. Clearly, crime, more just. Most people tend to say that is the
whether violent or not, is a growing and is price we have to pay, and very few alternative
a serious threat to urban safety all over the propositions are unfortunately put on the table
world. – also by professionals like us.
And – and this is important - it is no reasons
I remember when the book Defensible space why it should not change even more
by Oscar Newman was published some 35 dramatically in years to come, and that would
Karl Otto Ellefsen regarded as interesting but a
years ago it was mean – if we do not come up with alternatives.
bit exotic; in the sense that the topic it raised: We could be mowing into nightmare-like urban
safety in the city and related urban design conditions as described by George Orwell
12

13. – also in our towns and cities, that so far is contribution to a safer and a more just city?
regarded as relatively safe. So far I can only see that it has been
planning of gated communities and design of
By the way, I take it that you have heard fashionable fences keeping certain part of the
about the urban researcher at the Humbolt population out of certain parts of the city.
university in Berlin that recently was arrested
and taken to the police station for questioning, Globally a significant threat to urban safety
because he in a published study had used today is forced eviction and insecurity of
the world “gentrification” – he was accused tenure. Incidents of forced eviction are
according to the anti-terror laws and was told still regularly reported from all parts of
when he was released to be careful with his the world. I must remind you that one of
vocabulary in the future. the recommendations from the first global
urban encounter – Habitat I - in Vancouver
May be we have to change the old slogan in 1976 was that governments should stop
about: “stadtluft macht frei” to “if you want to forced evictions. 30 years later they still
be free stay away from the city”? take place and often linked to bulldozing of
squatter settlements and slums in developing
- countries, often in order to carry out processes
of gentrification, beautification and urban
The list of factors influencing the development redevelopment.
of cities set up by UN-Habitat includes in
addition to urban safety and social justice and -
urban crime and violence:
- forced eviction Disasters are also included as one threat
- insecurity of tenure, and to urban safety. Recent evidence suggests
- natural and man-made disasters that natural and human-made disasters are
increasing in frequency globally, and that
The last items might seem a little bit distant this trend is partly linked to climatic change.
currently – a little bit like how we looked at From 1975 to 2005, the number of disasters
Newmans book; if however our concern is: in in the world increased from 100 to 400 per
what direction are we moving? – they might year. Hurricane Katrina, the Asian Tsunami
be relevant even in our situation. and the Pakistan Earthquake are some of
the recent disasters that exposed our lack of
Also with a bearing on professional activities preparedness.
– which on this occasion means to planners,
architects and urban designers, we should Such disasters are normally characterised as
discuss what could be a professional natural or human made. To day it is a question
Erik Solheim
13

14. if they are in one way or another all human development. Cities have to be able to
made – at least the effect - has increased by provide inclusive living conditions for all their
human interventions – or lack of them. residents. Rich or poor, everyone has a right
to the city, to a decent living environment, to
- clean water, sanitation, transport, electricity
and other services. How we manage this
The most crucial challenge now seems to me is arguably one of the greatest challenges
to be how the ongoing discussion on climate currently facing humanity.
and environment also could include the urban
dimension. Certainly in this country this May be this conference could play a small role
discussion is now mainly dominated by the in moving our policy-makers attention a little
green lobby. By introducing the city in the bit towards the urban sector.
discussion we could play an important role,
because to convince both the public and the
government that in the future many more of
the traditional groups in focus for Norwegian Sven Erik Svendsen
development cooperation - like the poor, like Professor in Housing
women and children will live in the city is NTNU
crucial. The city is not only important because
most people are living there but also because
it has considerable environmental impact on
the national and global environment.
Risk reduction is in this connection an
important professional challenge – it may
come as an surprise and disappointment to
those of you who have attended the triennale
– which this arrangement is a part of. It is
probably in the reduction of risk that architects
and designers can contribute in a meaningful
way to disaster preparedness.
-
As the world becomes more urban, it is
important that policy­ akers understand
m
the power of the cities potential for national
14

15. Sven Erik Svendsen

16. Øystein Grønning

17. Saftey as a Pretext for Injustice
in the Case of Jerusalem
Can the Urban Fabric help bridge a Conflict?
The theme for the UN World Habitat Day Security as a Pretext
2007 was “A Safe City is a Just City”. Security in the case of Jerusalem and
One question immediately arises: Safe Palestine, thus, must be seen in the context
for whom? Just for whom? Everyone of Israel’s illegal occupation, annexation and
wants safety and security for themselves. colonization. Safe and just are anything but
The question is; how far are people, neutral words. Security can be perceived as a
groups, authorities willing to extend pretext for goals other than safety and justice.
“themselves”? Particularly when the If one looks at “security” as an element, one
concept of “we” is exclusive and “they” can see
are on the unwanted side, safe and - security as a strategic element
secure becomes questionable issues. - security as a rhetoric element, and
- security as a partial element.
In the conflict between Israel and Palestine,
“safety” is a core element. “Security” is the 1. Strategically, the Israeli goals are to gain
word often used in the rhetoric around the exclusive spatial control over the territory
military occupation. The reason given for of Jerusalem, and the pursuit is to achieve
ever-more severe actions against Palestinian an exclusive ethnic-religious demographic
population and territory is the need for composition. Tactically, this means a take-over
Israeli security. Palestinian unrest, natural of land and property, and the encroachment of
for any people under occupation, is treated what is more and more becoming Palestinian
as unjustifiable and random, not as part of a enclaves in a sea of Zionist settlement.
conflict with an opponent that has rights. Political observers see these tactics as blatant
examples of ethnic cleansing. However, the
Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian Palestinians seem to prevail, they are not
state, and seen by all Palestinians as the core easily pushed off their lands.
of their nation concept. Israel also considers
Jerusalem its capital, but the city is not The Israeli colony structure around Jerusalem
recognized by the world as such. The world reveals the strategic plan for encroachment
sees the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem and isolation of Palestinian East Jerusalem
as a violation of International Law. The UN from the rest of the Palestinian nation. The
has repeatedly condemned the annexation, separation wall supports this structure and
including the construction of Israeli colonies on underlines the strategy, by cutting the West
occupied lands. The world has its embassies in Bank in two and further subdividing it into
Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. separate and smaller enclaves.
17

18. Map 1 18

19. Map 2 19

20. Maps 1 and 2: the Wall in Jerusalem (copyright 2005 land-grabs, home destruction, land destruction
PALDIS Jerusalem) and the Colony Structure around etc. The Separation Wall, judged illegal by the
Jerusalem (copyright 2004 Negotiation Support Haag Courts, in this rhetoric becomes a tool of
Unit, NAD PLO). Palestinian areas in yellow, Israeli
safety and justice.
colonies and colony areas in blue.
The maps illustrate the goal: territorial control
of Jerusalem, isolation of East Jerusalem
from the West Bank. The maps do not allow
Palestinian territorial contiguity. The territorial
strategies of Israel are contradictory to any
notion of a Palestinian sovereign state.
This is the image of Apartheid, with the
one important exception that in Israel, the
unwanted people (Christian and Muslim
Palestinians) are excluded from entry into the
territory of the Masters. Dr. Menachem Klein, a
prominent Israeli political scientist at the Bar-
Ilan University, in 2003 named these policies
“Spartheid”.1
2. Rhetorically, resistance is systematically
portrayed as terrorism, whether directed
Illustration 1: Palestinians demonstrating against
against civilian or non-civilian targets.
the Wall (www.stopthewall.org)
According to International Law, resistance to
occupation is legal, albeit the means are not
3. Partial safety is the order of the day.
always so. By labeling all resistance terrorism,
Security is not offered to the occupied, in
Israel and international Zionism aims at
clear violation of Geneva Convention, which
disqualifying Palestinian rights by and large.
explicitly states that the occupying forces
Israel thus portrays itself and the Jewish
are obliged to tend to the security of civilians
Israeli population as victims in need of safety.
under occupation. The absence of civilian rule
in East Jerusalem has lead to an absence of
Security then becomes a pretext for the
civil order resulting in lawlessness, insecurity,
isolation and exclusion of the entire Palestinian
drugs pushing, gang rule, etc.
population, and a tool for the effectuation of
1. Lebanon newspaper Daily Star, October 25, 2003: The strategy, again, seems to be to make
“Israel’s Jerusalem policy: Sparta and apartheid” life so miserable that a Christian-Muslim
20

21. exodus will be the result. But although young Spatial violence is a well-known Palestinian
professionals, particularly Christians, are fact of life. Examples are plentiful: annexation
leaving Jerusalem in growing numbers, no of land and property, the colony structure, the
massive eviction seems within reach, and “security” wall, the construction of separate
Israeli strategies remain unsuccessful. This roads for the Israeli colonists crisscrossing
might explain why Israeli politicians during the the West Bank, etc. This violence means ruin
last half-year or so have started talking about to so many, visual images of one’s misery as
Jerusalem actually being a divided city, and a people, and a daily reminder that the West
about leaving parts of Palestinian Jerusalem to doesn’t care, and allies are in no position to
the Palestinians to govern. react.
The Provision of Security:
Violence as a Way of Life
Israeli Security rests on violence: spatial,
structural and physical violence.
Illustration 3: Home demolition, Jerusalem
(stopthewall.org)
Structural violence is connected to the
application of law and order: denial of tax
exemptions for Palestinian business and
property owners when f. inst. tourism fails,
Illustration 2: Security fence, West Bank: division partiality in supplying loans, denial of building
of Palestinian agricultural land, destruction of permits and destruction of homes “illegally”
landscapes (stopthewall.org) built, and other instances of apartheid policies.
21

22. Law and order is also imposed as harassment: Is there a Way to Circumvent the
ID’s checked on the street, bullying at check- Stalemate?
points, denial of access to hospitals for births,
operations and first aid, denial of access to The situation does not invite optimism.
Christian and Muslim Holy Sites, etc. For more than 40 years the occupation,
annexation and colonization of Palestinian
territory has been going on with the world as
passive bystanders. Israel seems uninfluenced
by UN resolutions, and finds encouragement in
the lack of ability to enforce International Law
in their case.
This is a stalemate situation on several
levels. The international community will not
intervene. In reality, it has turned its back on
the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Christian and
Muslim population will not leave Palestine.
Geopolitically, this stalemate leads to growing
regional unrest and mistrust of the West. If
not resolved, the conflict must be expected
to lead to more instability, more conflict on
a local, regional and geo-political level, and
more anti-Semitism.2
In the Palestinian stalemate, Jerusalem
Palestinians are split between rage, resignation
Illustration 4: East Jerusalem: ID control of and Realpolitik. There is no leadership since
Palestinian youth who wants to use his right to the death of Feisal Husseini and the Israeli
vote in the 1996 Palestinian parliamentary election, destruction of Orient House.3 Business is bad
outside entrance to election hall. Background shows and getting worse. Homes are overcrowded.
international observers. Photo by author.
2. Former US President Jimmy Carter at the Geneva Accord
Physical Violence is the blunt, common ceremony in Geneva, Dec. 1st 2003: “There is no doubt
that lack of real effort to resolve the Palestinian issue is a
exertion of brute power: arrests, beatings
primary source of anti-American sentiment throughout the
and torture, general public armament of Middle East and a major incentive for terrorist activity.”
the master population, de facto executions
in raids, random killings of civilians during 3. Husseini was recognized as the de facto leader of the
military attacks on targeted persons, groups East Jerusalem community, acting as a kind of local author-
and sites, etc. ity in the Orient House with staff, archives etc.
22

23. Municipal services, a duty of the Israeli creating a ring around central Jerusalem
authorities to whom the East Jerusalem with no weapons on the inside, and with a
population pays taxes, are a disgrace. perimeter controlled by professional guards
with no stake in the conflict. The system is
In this stalemate of great frustration, well known and has been employed at summer
the questions are how to circumvent the and winter Olympics for a while now. It is
stalemate, circumvent an unlawful occupation, not even particularly difficult to establish.
annexation and colonization when the All it takes, is for Israel to respect their
international community in reality does not own demand for security, and agree to an
care, because it takes no action? What means international security presence in Jerusalem.
do we have?
This is no place to describe the system in
The following is an attempt at circumvention. detail. That is done elsewhere. In the context
It is based on providing security for all by of this article, we merely outline a solution
23

24. and point to plausible scenarios for the are municipal services. The tough will be
near future. This is done in describing three to get the two peoples to reach out across
steps of measures and results by redefining the divisions created by decades of harsh
security, starting reconstruction, and bridging occupation and resistance. They are cultural
gaps. The political issue of whose state and and recreational meeting grounds, common
whose territory is left for later. If the core projects, venues for both and all, the active
conflict issues are kept at the front with no involvement of the international community at
international will to intervene against Israel’s non-governmental levels, non-partisan action
unlawful politics, the stalemate will remain, groups, etc etc.
and the conflict will escalate until we are
looking at a war with international proportions. When violence is taken out of the equation and
the bomb defused, explore the urban fabric!
Short Term measures: Redefine security It can be used for resistance, but also holds
Take Israeli rhetoric at face value, take wonderful promises of normality.
weapons out of the equation, on both sides,
provide real security for both sides. Define a
perimeter and abolish weapons on the inside,
Øystein Grønning,
quarter by quarter, house by house, room by
room. Defend the perimeter by checking all
M. Arch. MNAL, Urbanist.
entries for weapons. Partner, Migrant AS architecture+urbanism
The result is an end of military rule , an easing
of tensions, the return of (tourism) business,
return of contacts between the two sides, etc.
The Wall will, as time goes by, prove obsolete
because security is given with less harsh
means.
Medium Term measures: Reconstruction
Allow development, enable Palestinian society,
provide security for investment.
The result is the return of economic security
to the separate societies of East and West
Jerusalem, where one does not dominate the
other.
Long Term measures: Bridge the gaps
Create common grounds. The obvious ones Illustration 5: aerial view of the Old City of
are trade and transportation. Likely ones Jerusalem. Photo by author.
24

26. Erik Berg

27. Cities - Hopes and Challenges
The Norwegian Government’s Role in Urban Development
Dear Colleagues,
Let me first start by giving Habitat 2007 over half the world’s population will be
Norway credit for the work done city dwellers. Migration, urbanization, and
in preparing this conference. Our growing slums in risk areas increase the
“development politicians” in the Ministry probability of humanitarian disasters.
of Foreign Affairs sincerely regret that Changing disasters: We are witnessing a
they, despite last year’s participation, are tendency of complex crisis situations unfolding
unable to attend the Habitat day 2007 in countries where governments have little
due to prior commitments. None the control or lack administrative capacities. Such
less, our politicians see the work being combinations give rise to vicious circles and
done in the field of urban development as go some way to explain the increase in the
essential. number of vulnerable states.
This growing recognition of urban challenges The recognition of the link between poverty
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is apparent and urbanization in the Ministry of Foreign
in several ways. This fall a Parliamentary Affairs will also become evident in the policy
Whitepaper on Norwegian Policy for the document compiled by the Ministry of Local
prevention of humanitarian catastrophes will Government and Regional Development,
be launched. It deliberates the link between the Norwegian Agency for International
growing levels of conflict and an increase in Development and the Ministry of Foreign
natural disasters. The paper’s conclusion is Affairs, that has been further developed
clear: we have to alter the way in which we through both internal and external hearings.
organize Norwegian as well as international aid The process towards this policy paper has
if we are to meet the challenges we are facing been fruitful in itself on account of two
efficiently. Three of these challenges are: participatory seminars. These have resulted
in an informal, urban network with close
Changing climate: 2007 may be the warmest to 40 members. The document itself is
year on a global level since systematic being finalized by the Foreign Ministry and
measurements of temperatures started will be distributed in the near future (The
150 years ago. According to the IPCC, document “Byer – Håp og utfordringer. Om
environmental- and climate changes can byutvikling og internasjonalt samarbeid” is
potentially lead to an increase of 150 million now available from the Foreign Ministry also
refugees worldwide by 2050. in English translation– ed.). It is a response to
Changing habitat patterns: In the course of demands concerning a clear and goal oriented
27

28. approach to urban issues as a part of a new the Norwegian government since 2003. Today
development approach recently called for our government plays a vital role in defining
by media (Aftenposten 28.06.07) and civil how the UN’s smallest program can be able to
society. meet one of the greatest challenges facing the
world.
With this document Norway becomes one of
the first countries in the world that launches The theme for this year’s Habitat day is urban
an urban development policy. The policy safety and security. There are three major
notably encourages multilateral efforts as treats to the safety and security of cities:
a part of a cross-sectoral comprehensive urban crime and violence, insecurity- both
perspective: the urban challenges we are tenure and forced evictions - and natural
facing would gradually become part of all and human-made disasters. Over the past 5
Norwegian development work. Comparatively, years – according to UN statistics - 60% of all
Norway’s advantage is our broad academic urban residents in developing countries have
base with institutions working with been victims of crime. Turning to security of
development issues in the South for the tenure and forced evictions the same statistics
last 50 years. Another advantage is the estimate that at least 2 million people are
democratic, process oriented approach that we forcibly evicted every year. The most insecure
have adopted and developed in terms of urban urban residents are the world’s 1 billion
planning. Our contribution to development in poor people living in slums. With regard to
the South will be modest on a global scale, disasters, which are increasing globally, data
but as an active representative in international shows that between 1974 and 2003, 6367
fora we can play our part as an important natural disasters occurred globally causing
catalyst for large scale involvement from the death of 2 million people and affecting
multilateral finance institutions and other 5.1 billion people. A total of 182 million
donor countries. people were made homeless, while economic
damage amounted to US 1.38 trillion. The
The urban sector has throughout the era of aggregate impact of small scale hazards on
international development aid been grossly urban dwellers can also be considerable. For
underfunded – and still is. In the period example traffic accidents kill over 1.2 million
between 1970 and 2000 it has been estimated people annually worldwide. There has been a
that only 4% of all transfers have been 50 per cent rise in extreme weather incidents
towards the urban sector (IIED). Norway has associated with climate change from the
over the last few years increased its economic 1950s to the 1990s and major cities located in
support to the sector, notably to UN-Habitat coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to sea
and Cities Alliance. UN-Habitat alone has level rise.
received a 5-fold increase in their funding from
28

29. An important socio-economic determinant
of vulnerability to the three threats to urban
safety and security - addressed in the new
Norwegian policy document - is poverty. The
urban poor are more exposed to crime, forced
evictions and natural hazards than the rich.
They are more vulnerable to disasters than
the rich because they are often located on
sites prone to floods, landslides and pollution.
The urban poor also has limited access to
assets, thus reducing their ability to respond
to hazards or manage risks for instance
through insurance. Because the poor are
politically powerless, it is unlikely that they will
receive the necessary social services following
disasters.
To conclude, I hope that this conference
will focus on the need for policy responses
that place people, poverty reduction and
community participation at the centre.
Thank you for your attention!
Erik Berg
Senior Advisor
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
29

30. Nabeel Hamdi

31. Urban Futures
Vulnerability and violence - what agenda for urban planning
Abstract
“Cities in the developing world will account to place which makes engagement to
for 95% of urban expansion in the next two community tricky – because you don’t know
decades, and by 2030 four billion people will where you belong or which values you share.
live in cities – 1.4 billion in slums.”
The cultivation of community and new forms of
Those 1.4 billion, one way or another will partnership in urban planning in ways that are
be poor or otherwise vulnerable and it is in pluralist and networked is a key to reducing
recognition of this that reducing vulnerability is vulnerability as is the cultivation of choice,
a key to tackling issues of poverty and at the when it comes to place and identity.
centre of ensuring safe and fair cities.
This presentation will outline an agenda
for action designed to integrate issues of Nabeel Hamdi,
vulnerability, exclusion and violence into Professor Emeritus
decisions on urban planning. The causes Oxford Brookes University, UK
of vulnerability will be outlined as will the
complicity of planning in condoning/promoting
exclusion. The presentation will argue
that social and economic vulnerability and
exclusion, and the search for identity in cities
often find expression in violence. Violence
undermines the assets of the poor and will
often polarise social groups with profound
impact on urban form. (withdrawl from
public space, gated communities, symbolic
appropriation of space, etc).
The presentation will go on to give definition
to the transformative process of community in
cities (and with it the insecurity that derives
from uncertain or multiple loyalties, values,
identities). It will argue the weakness of place The following pages are notes from Mr. Hamdi’s
based community undermines a commitment presentation for the conference.
31

32. 32

33. 33

34. Villa 31, Buenos Aires

35. Securing a Safe and
Salubrious Community
An introduction to a workshop

37. Villa 21-24
A Presentation of a Villas Miserias
25% of Latin American urban households burrows called Barrios. Several of these
are living below the locally defined Barrios contain informal settlements called
poverty lines. Villas Miserias. These informal settlements
29% of cities in the developing world can be found all across the Capital Federal,
have areas considered as inaccessible or but most are concentrated within the southern
dangerous to the police. parts of the city. Villa 21-24 is situated in the
In Latin America and the Caribbean, this Barrio Barracas, demarked in black.
figure is 48 %.
UN-HABITAT’s State of the World’s Cities
Argentina and Buenos Aires
Official language: Spanish
Capital: Buenos Aires
Type of rule: Democratic republic
President: Cristina Kirchner
Area: 2 766 890 km2
Population: 37 812 817
Density: 13,67/km2
South America is a continent of social
differences. For a long time Argentina had
a relatively large middle class population
compared to other South American countries,
but this changed after the economic crisis of
2001. A large part of the country’s industry
was bankrupted and work vanished. The
number of poor increased, and the class divide
deepened.
In 2000 there were 12,6 million people living
in Buenos Aires, and it was by that point the
worlds 10th largest city. By 2015, UN Habitat
predicts that the population will have risen to
14, 1 million.
Buenos Aires is divided into more than 50
37

38. Barrio Barracas and Villa 21 - 24 A Brief History of Argentina
Barrio Barracas Argentina was a Spanish Colony between 1516
Area: 7,6 km2 and 1816. The country’s independence was,
Population: 77 474 (2001) however, not a peaceful one, and up until the
Villa 21 - 24 Second World War Argentina was marred by
Area: 0,6 km2 internal struggle. Swaying between liberal and
Population: about 30 000 conservative political parties, as well as
between politicians and the military, order
The name Barracas derives from the word was restored with the inauguration of Juan
”barraca” meaning barracs or shed. In the Peron in 1946. He was president up until
20th Century immigrants – especially 1955, and returned to power in 73, only to
Italians, populated Barracas. It was a thriving die the following year. His third wife, Isabel
community consisting mostly of working class Perón, resumed office but was overthrown by
families. After 1950 many of Barracas factories the military junta in 1976. After the Falkland
were closed down. War of 82 the military junta was considerably
weakened, resulting in a democratic victory
Villa 21-24, which is nestled on the border during the elections of 1983. The economic
between Barracas and Nueva Pompeya has collapse of 2001 marked the end of president
about 30 000 inhabitants, making it the home Menem’s rule.
of almost half of the population of Barracas.
The population is a blend of Argentineans, Source: http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina
Bolivians and Paraguayans. The area lacks
technical infrastructure such as paved roads,
water and gas supply. Electricity is provided to
most homesteads through informal links.
Villa 21-24 is run by a Mutual (Flor de Ceibo).
The Mutual is in many ways an elected
organization representing the community
when communicating with the authorities. The
Villa contains a number of chapels, and the
presence of the church is strong. There are
altogether 9 comedores serving free food, in
addition to several voluntary organizations Facing page: Aerial of Villa 21 - 24. The area is
(compromising around 250 volunteer workers) around 400 meters wide and 1500
engaged in the challenges facing the Villa. meters long. It is cut off by railway lines to the
North, the river Riachuelo to the
Villa 21-24 can be reached by a 15-minute South, an industrial area to the East and a
drive from the city centre of Buenos Aires. residential area to the West.
38

39. A Brief History of Villa 21-24 Arial photograph from 1965. The area
Villa 21-24 is situated between a residential has been settled on the eastern parts.
area to the west and an industrial area (http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar)
to the east. On its northern boundaries lies a
railway station, while to the south the Arial photograph from 1978, during
river Riachuelo, one of the world’s most the rule of the military junta. In this
polluted rivers, flows past. The Villa period the area was divided into plots
compromises 65 hectares of land. It stretches that were numbered. Previously the
1,5 km from north to south, and 0,43 area was divided into three sections
km west to east. called Tierra Amarilla (north of Iriarte),
Sagrado Corazón (between Iriarte and
Around 1880 the area was allocated as an Osvaldo Cruz) and Tres Rosas (south
industrial area for the railroads. It was of Osvaldo Cruz). After the division
known as “la Playa Brian” at the time of into plots the area was called Villa 21-
construction by the British. 24. The image shows a rapid increase
The area was located in close proximity to the in the population since the 1960s.
city centre as well as having
connections to several railway lines. Railway Satellite photograph from 2005
carts and tracks were manufactured and (Google Earth). Only in the two years
repaired there. Production receded in the that have passed since this image was
1960s, resulting in the occupation and taken, the population in the area has
settlement of the area. increased. The area circled in north of
Iriarte is today completely filled up
Villa 21-24 is today an informal settlement with housing. Some houses have
located on government land. The appeared in the open field east of the
population growth has been steadily railway line, but these will most likely
increasing, marked by two separate periods of be removed as the owner of the plot
rapid growth. (Jorge Fossati, IdV). Starting out has removed any previous attempts to
as an area of temporary settlement, settle the area by use of the police.
there is now a whole generation of permanent The same is true for the open plot in
residents who have lived their whole the northwestern corner of Villa 21-24.
lives in the Villa.
Comparisons
Arial photograph from 1940 from What will the future bring for Villa 21-24?
before the area was occupied. Instituto de Vivienda are employing
(http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar) development strategies for such areas. Barri A

40. A Brief History of Villa 21-24
Villa 21-24 is situated between a residential
area to the west and an industrial area to the
east. On its northern boundaries lies a railway
station, while to the south the river Riachuelo,
one of the world’s most polluted rivers, flows
past. The Villa compromises 65 hectares of
land. It stretches 1,5 km from north to south,
and 0,43 km west to east.
Around 1880 the area was allocated as an
industrial area for the railroads. It was known
as “la Playa Brian” at the time of construction
by the British. The area was located in
close proximity to the city centre as well as
having connections to several railway lines.
Railway carts and tracks were manufactured
and repaired there. Production receded in
the 1960s, resulting in the occupation and
settlement of the area.
Villa 21-24 is today an informal settlement
located on government land. The population
growth has been steadily increasing, marked
by two separate periods of rapid growth.
(Jorge Fossati, IdV). Starting out as an area
of temporary settlement, there is now a whole
generation of permanent residents who have
lived their whole lives in the Villa.
Arial photograph from 1940
From before the area was occupied.
(http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar)
40

41. Arial photograph from 1978
During the rule of the military junta. In this
period the area was divided into plots that
were numbered. Previously the area was
divided into three sections called Tierra
Amarilla (north of Iriarte), Sagrado Corazón
Arial photograph from 1965 (between Iriarte and Osvaldo Cruz) and Tres
The area has been settled on the eastern Rosas (south of Osvaldo Cruz). After the
parts. (http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar) division into plots the area was called Villa 21-
24. The image shows a rapid increase in the
population since the 1960s.
41

42. Soldati, Barrio Gral M.N Salvio, Villa Zabaleta,
Villa 11 - 14 and Villa Oyitas in Matanza
outside the Capital Federal are examples on
how these strategies work.
Villa 21-24 is today categorized as a Villa,
which means it is an informal part of the
city the Instituto de Vivienda (IdV) have
not planned for or are not able to control.
Normally such areas are temporarily
transformed into NHTs – Nucleo Habitacional
Transitiorio. Zabaleta, an area bordering
to Villa 21-24 is one such example. NHT is
a temporary developmental step towards
creating a Barrio – the final phase in IdVs
development strategy.
The Villas are perceived as a problem by
the authorities and parts of the population
in the formal city. People in the Villas are
stigmatized, and are seen as criminals,
drug addicts or just lazy or inept to work.
Physically the Villa is recognizable by its lack
of infrastructure and its unsafe and inadequate
structures built from recycled and/or cheap
Satellite photograph from 2005 building materials. This results in a great
(Google Earth) Only in the two years that variation in color, materials, sizes and technical
have passed since this image was taken, the solutions. Plot sizes also vary considerably.
population in the area has increased. The area In contrast to the Villa, the NHT is planned
circled in north of Iriarte is today completely and regulated by the authorities. The NHT is
filled up with housing. Some houses have considered a temporary phase between Villa
appeared in the open field east of the railway and Barrio. People residing here suffer some
line, but these will most likely be removed of the same bigotry residents in the Villas
as the owner of the plot has removed any are exposed to. But the NTH has a far better
previous attempts to settle the area by use of infrastructure, although not satisfactory when
the police. The same is true for the open plot compared to the formal solutions. Plots in the
in the northwestern corner of Villa 21-24. NTH are uniform and regular, as are street
42

43. widths, housing, and materials. Nonetheless,
the physical structures of the NHTs are
unstable and have all the qualities of a quick
fix.
Barrio Soldati (see photo below) is a typical
social housing project, planned and built by
the authorities. Also here, some people find
themselves stigmatized. These barrios have
adequate infrastructure as well as similar
housing units and building materials. There
is little or no variation, and the structures
are often set up rapidly at minimum cost.
The development strategies employed by the
IdV can seem inadequate. The strategies do
not consider the potential the Villas harbor,
but instead focus on the problems. The
strategies bereave the Villa of its identity and
undermine the already existing networks and
structures developed by and for the residents
themselves. Still, there are severe problems
connected to a Villa, and these have to be
taken seriously.
43

44. Observations
“Behind the blue church, with an entrance from Padre Pepe’s plot, they are in the process of building
an orphanage. The work has halted half way through, due to lack of funds. Architect Sr. Sespede tells
me that he has worked in the area for 10 years, but that he cannot work with orphans. “They are
often forced into prostitution”, he tells me: ’my own children are the same age.’”
“Sr Sespede tells me he doesn’t want to work with urbanism, but rather he focuses on single
projects. The reason for this, he continues, is that urbanism involves large scale change and
dealings with the authorities. This leads either to nothing happening, or that corruption or other
problems get in the way of the project.”
“When we were teaching we were collected two blocks outside the Villa, either by students, or by
people working for the organization. We were escorted back after the day was done. The reason
for this was fear of criminal acts.”
“Several of the pupils were originally from Paraguay. Lucia often told me that it is the
Paraguayans that create the most trouble in the Villa. I found it strange that she had such
prejudice even though she worked in the area three times a week. I encountered the same
attitude several times throughout the Villa.”

45. 45

46. Interview at the
Institutio de Vivienda
Walter Mosquera and Jorge Fossati work at Mosquera does not believe social housing
the IdV focusing on informal settlements in projects to be the solution for the Villas. He
Buenos Aires. He says that the Mutuale in points out that infrastructure and interaction
Villa 21-24, Flor de Ceibo, is especially strong between the city and its surrounds is vital.
and that the authorities are not able to enter Housing units according to family size is also
without the consent of the Mutuale. Institutio an important factor. He says that the buildings
de Vivienda have not had access to Villa 21-24 should consider identity, and that building
since 2000. projects need to respect the inhabitants to a
larger degree than they do today.
The residents of Villa Zabaleta, which is
located on the other side of Calle Zabaleta, Jorge Fossati says there are two population
do not wish to be a part of Villa 21-24 or their groups in the Villas. Argentineans make
Mutuale. This area is a Nucleo Habitacional up 30 – 40%. In most cases, he believes,
Transitorio, and is as such different both these are second-generation immigrants.
formally and historically. According to Children of immigrants born in Argentina
Mosquera and the IdV statistics from 2001, are automatically granted Argentinean
there are 3 050 housing units in Villa 21-24 citizenship. Being children or young adults,
consisting of 3 500 families and a total of 13 the Argentinean part of the Villa population
500 people. Today IdV stipulate the population therefore has a low age average.
to be around 18 000. The Catholic Church,
however, estimate that there are 32 000 The other population group is immigrants.
people residing in Villa 21-24. Compromising 60-70%, they come from
Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay. The reason for the
Walter does not know how old the Villa is, immigration, Fossati explains, is mainly due to
but says that there have been two periods the fact that Argentina has a free health and
of notable growth. The first period was in education system, and that money is easier to
1984, just after the democratic reform in the come by here than most other places.
country. For the most part the people settling
in the Villa at the time were Argentineans Residents within the Villa who lives closer to
from the countryside. The second growth the main streets, has pluming. No one in the
period started in 2001, marked by the end Villa is connected to the gas mains. They have
of President Menem’s rule and extreme external gas tanks for cooking and heating
unemployment. Since then the population has water. The houses are also illegally connected
grown steadily, partly due to people moving in, to the power grid.
but also due to internal growth.
46

49. Interview with Julio
Julio has lived in Villa 21-25 for 25 years and of the fact. The best part about living in Villa
is a self-made film director. He lives with his 21-24 he says is: “the street, this part of
wife Maria Esther, and together they have town, the people around here, the way they
12 children. Julio is a former Cartonero – a are,” and continues: “life here has more flavor.
garbage collector. A lot of people from the Every minute something happens.”
Villas work in this profession. Their main task
is to manage the household waste from formal He believes the future in Villa 21-24 will be
residences and sell it to recycling stations. hard. Mostly because of the possibility that
Julio later started a performance group in they will have to live in way they do not
Villa 21-24. They had no experience, but want to. They will raze the area, he believes,
made up for it in passion, he says. He has creating 7 by 8 meter plots of equal size. Two
now made several films from the community meters of garden in front and two in the back.
using local actors and actresses. He has won
several awards for his work, and also traveled Today Julio and his family have twice this
to Morocco to receive one such award. Today amount. “The government might own the
Julio works as a drama teacher at a local land,” he states: “but I own the house.” He is
school in addition to making his films. He says entitled to selling his house even though he
that if things are going to change in the Villa, does not own the land. If the authorities clear
the change has to come from inside: “Culture the area, Julio will be in a very vulnerable
cannot be implemented from outside,” he position. “The worst is being forced to do
muses: “it needs to be created there and then, something you don’t want to take part in,” he
if it is to have any impact.” says, looking out at the self-built community
around him.
Julio´s house is a two-storey building. They
have a large bathroom with a flushing toilet, a We visited Julio’s son’s house in Villa Zabaleta,
dining room combined with a kitchen, a garage an area regulated by the authorities. Julio’s
and four bedrooms. In addition they have a daughter in law was at home and their young
small roof top garden. The kitchen is painted daughter was asleep. The family had been
in yellow and blue, the colors of Boca Juniors, forced to move to the social housing project
one of the two largest soccer teams in Buenos she says. She didn’t want to, but they were
Aires. The walls are hung with plenty of family forced. Julio thinks their new home won’t
photos. last the year. It will prove too expensive
to maintain, and they will have to sell and
Julio has lived in Villa 21-24 for 25 years and relocate.
has all his roots there. Before that he lived
in other Villas. He says that this is his home. Julio still wants the government to get more
He does not want to move or change houses. involved. He sees the solution in Villa 21-24
He has built everything himself and is proud as twofold. First, the availability and access
49

50. to loans to buy materials has to be secured. ones with real power in Villa 21-24 are,
Second, an upgrading of the infrastructure is according to Julio, Padre Pepe and Guillermo
needed. Better streets, more police, hospitals Bizae.
etc. He mentions there is a hospital eight
blocks away, but that it is impossible to get a Guillermo Bizae is the de facto president of
bed. Villa 21-24. He is the head of the Mutuale.
All the Villas in Buenos Aires have such a
He and his wife are of Argentinean descend, Mutuale, and every decision in relation to
and thus part of the minority in the area. planning, building and communicating with the
There are quite a number of Paraguayans authorities passes through the Mutuale.
and Bolivians staying in Villa 21-24. Still,
Juan almost only has Argentinean friends Padre Pepe is the leader of the catholic
and contacts. He says getting to know the Church in Villa 21 – 24, Señora de Caacupe,
Paraguayans is hard. He also believes that another powerful actor. Neither the Mutuale
most second-generation immigrants consider nor the Church involves themselves in the
themselves Argentineans, and don’t want to drug problems in the area. Drug related
return to their home countries. Julio is proud problems are prolific, the most common drug
to be an Argentinean and is a Peronist ( a being Paco, a waste product from cocaine
supporter of the political movement after Juan production.
Peron.)
“The worst thing about living in the Villa is
Taking a walk outside, we come across the the insecurity,” says Julio. He worries for his
railway line and a passing train. The buildings daughters, but says that as long as he is a
closest to the track are only 1 meter away well-known and respected man, they keep out
from the carts as they rush by. Julio tells me of harm’s way. Still, Julio keeps a shotgun in a
there have been two accidents recently, both closet in the kitchen, a couple of meters from
involving children. “But people here take good the front door.
care of their kids and animals,” he continues.
Two police officers were busy closing the road
manually when the train came through. It
does so 2-3 times every day. Eli Grønn
Architect
We walked on through narrow alleys. Julio
migrant a+u
says he and his family never venture to the
southern parts of the Villa, or down to the
river. The police are there, but their presence
is not of the positive kind, he explains. The
50

52. Workshop results

54. About the workshop
Last year’s Habitat Day in Oslo saw a lot – had taken the trip to ROM art + architecture,
of young participants joining the confer- Saturday the 29th of September, and set to the
ence at the Oslo School of Architecture. tasks with fervor.
This influx of new blood into our field is
highly encouraging, and is important to The workshop was run by professors Nabeel
maintain. To spur student interest for this Hamdi and Ed Robbins, who shared from their
year’s Habitat Day event as well, a work- joint wealth of experience. The case chosen
shop with Nabeel Hamdi, one of Europe’s was largely based on a diploma work at NTNU
leading action planners, was organised. by Eli Grønn, on one of the Villas Miserias in
Buenos Aires, Argentina: a “miserable place”
In the field of urban poverty, there are com- where poverty, insecurity and crime are all
plex issues to be dealt with – issues that may major problems.
seem daunting to those that are inexperi-
enced, and may prove to be a hindrance in The workshop was planned in three stages,
respect to recruitment. The workshop was but given the allotted time, it was shortened to
organised to familiarise students and others fit into one day. Neither the processes nor the
with some of the central issues in the field, results, therefore, are finished in any respect
with especial attention to community based – but are rather a glimpse into the plethora of
action planning methods. Given the theme of problematic issues regarding urban poverty.
this year’s Habitat Day, “A Safe City is a Just As one of the participants mused at the end
City”, the choice of a community based work- of the day – he just felt more frustrated after
shop case is both interesting and apt. negotiating the tasks of the workshop than he
did before. This, alas, can be taken as proof
Although the workshop was created for the that the workshop did indeed simulate all too
benefit of the participants, a case was chosen well “real life” events.
that would allow for realistic simulation of “real
life” events - although few of the participants
were familiar with the site from before. This,
however, can be said to be a common problem
facing those working in the field.
22 people – students from The University in
Oslo, The Oslo School of Architecture and
Design, Bergen School of Architecture, The
Norwegian University of Science and Technol-
ogy, as well as a few from other walks of life
54

56. Villa 21-24 Diagrams
CATHOLIC CHURCH
EL MUTUAL
KINDERGARTEN
COMEDOR
HEALTH CLINIC
CHILDREN/YOUTH CENTRE
SCHOOL
CHAPEL
Housing Functions
56

57. HIGH INTENSITY
LOW INTENSITY
Green structures Internal paths
57

58. Few public functions Intensity of public functions
58

59. Open spaces Transportation
New township, Cape Flats
59

60. Part 1
Discussions
After an introduction to the workshop case,
this first part of the workshop was initiated
by a separation of the participants into three
groups. These were community based groups
that represent some of the challenges present-
ed in the case. Group 1 was to be a local com-
munity group, group 2 represented garbage
collectors, while the third group was made up
of immigrants from the countryside. The main Local community group
task in this part of the workshop was to let the
participants identify with each of the groups
they represented, and clarify the following:
- Who are we?
- What do we need?
- What are our dreams?
These questions were discussed and answers
written down in the groups respectively. After
these deliberations, the participants gath-
ered for role play, where the three commu-
nity groups presented themselves for each
Garbage collectors
other, and pointed out their needs, wishes and
demands. In this way a series of issues and
questions were presented and clarified.
Immigrants from the countryside
60

61. 61

62. Part 2
Occupying the site
In this second part of the workshop the groups becoming apparent that conflicts of interest
were asked to “stake their claims” on site. A might crop up between the respective commu-
large map of the area, in 1:500 was laid out nity groups.
on the floor, and the participants developed
“their” parts of the site according to the re- The collective discussions that took place on
spective community group’s identities. basis of the visual material on the map gave
room for a few arguments concerning key dif-
Some design work ensued, and the two- and ferences between the groups, and enabled the
three dimensional shapes that appeared on workshop to proceed in a constructive direc-
the map gave each of the community groups tion in terms of identifying, looking into, and
more presence, and a visual basis for discus- hopefully solving some of these problems.
sions. Viewing the map from above, it was
62

64. Part 3
Suggest, disagree, and agree
The groups were asked to suggest proposals that would benefit their group and the community as
a whole on three different levels; general suggestions, infrastructure, and plots. Suggestions the
groups could not agree upon are marked in grey. The remaining suggestions were proposals every-
one felt they could work with. The purpose of such an activity is to allow community groups to focus
on topics they can agree upon, rather than those they disagree about.
General Suggestions
l Organize plots so that families and relatives can live next to each other
l Ensure accessibility
l Possibility for holding animals
l Keep the open plot a recreational area
l In addition to housing, land should be available for agriculture
l All to have access to an open plot of land
l Big road – big plots, small road – small plots
l Keep existing density
l Create a community area on part of the open plot
l Divide into three different plot sizes
Infrastructure
l Roads wide enough for fire trucks
l Lighting for streets and public spaces
l New railway station
l Walkways between subplots
l Keep road edges unbuilt for commercial activity
l Access to water supplies
l Open for shops and manufacturing along streets
Plots
l Spaces for production
l Common spaces within housing squares with direct access from street
l Places to sit and relax
l Common barbeque/cooking areas in shared open spaces
l A network of smaller shared spaces catering for different activities
l Shared spaces located along main roads and connecting streets
l Spaces for keeping animals
l Community centre
l 6-10 houses create a neighborhood
l Make public space by widening road and walkways
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65. 65

66. Part 4
Design guidelines and
implementations on site
Based on the points agreed upon in part 3,
the participants were once again divided into
groups. This time, their skills as planners were
called upon. Using the map, and the visual
basis from part 2 of the workshop, improve-
ments on site were implemented using the
basic design guidelines from part 3. The result
was a meshwork of planned spaces that, al-
though based on the same design principals,
expressed very different physical results. Also,
a number of interesting discussions ensued,
for example concerning the construction of
“high rise” buildings in such an area, the need
for open plots, and issues regarding feeling
protected in contrast to feeling monitored.
Overall, the discussions showed how a work-
shop like this can have as much value for
architects and planners, as for community
groups on site. Usually, in real terms, this
type of workshop will span the better part
of a week, albeit with much larger groups
of peoples, and perhaps with a greater fo-
cus on diplomacy. In this case, the workshop
was more of an insight into action planning.
Unfortunately, the workshop was cut short at
the end of the day. The remaining topics were
related to policy and governance – topics that
arguably are of great importance when dealing
with safety and urban poverty.
Anders Ese
Co-Chairman
Habitat Norway
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67. 67

68. Concluding Remarks
The poetic theme of UN Habitat last year, grounds. Money may work wonders, he said,
“Cities magnets of hope”, has been replaced as confidence can be created through trade
with a growing awareness of the risk factors and market activities.
facing urban populations. In 2007, the central
theme read that “A safe city is a just city”. Representing the Foreign Ministry, Erik Berg
One of our key-speakers at the conference, presented the policy paper “Cities – hopes
Sven Erik Svendsen added a question mark and challenges - on urban development and
to this quote in order to encourage raised international cooperation”. The policy paper
awareness and continued reflection on the encourages multilateral efforts and cross-
topic. He went on to ask how best to secure sectoral approaches. Norwegian development
urban populations without renouncing their programs are increasingly taking this into
rights. There are a number of important issues account by targeting many of the urban
facing urban dwellers such as forced evictions, challenges we are currently facing. One of
insecurity of tenure, increasing incidents of the many topics discussed in the paper is
violent crime as well as natural and man- poverty and the vulnerability of the urban poor
made disasters. The responses depend on the to crime, forced evictions, natural hazards,
circumstances and the answers are complex. It pollution and diseases. Throughout the era of
is also important to note that having a greater international development, the urban sector
number of safe cities does not necessarily has been and still is, grossly under-funded.
make these cities more pleasant living spaces. The fact that the Norwegian government
is launching this paper, was thus highly
Øystein Grønning substantiated this point acclaimed at the conference.
when he explained how Israel builds and
establishes safety in their zones, and how This year Habitat Norway wanted to
they in this process create further injustice expand the scope of the conference on
for the Palestinian populations. The Israeli’s the Habitat Day. We wanted to shift the
security rests on violence in spatial, structural form of communication from a style based
and physical terms. Grønning thus highlighted mainly on presentations to including a more
the necessity of building confidence rather active dialogue on development issues in
than security. However, how does one break the context of a workshop. The conference
patterns of conflict when there is a complete was thus supplemented by a workshop that
lack of confidence between the participating provided training on community-based action
actors? His suggestion was to bridge gaps planning methods. This one day exercise
of both the visible and invisible sort and to attracted mainly students who made up the
create common links using methods such as majority of the participants; the discussion
trade, transportation and cultural meeting was complemented by the presence of a few
professionals like me. The workshop gave rise
68

69. to a number of interesting discussions that requested. Conflict awareness and problem
highlighted many of the central issues on the solving were central to the exercise. Various
topic “A safe city is a just city”. proposals were mapped, conflicts became
apparent and the catalyst properties of certain
In order to guide this process, we were actions were explored. What did we learn?
fortunate enough to be able to present the The workshop opened up for new ways of
renowned action planner, Nabeel Hamdi thinking, and it became apparent that when
from Oxford Brookes University. At Oxford the advantages of a proposal are clear, it
Brookes, Hamdi founded the master course on is always easier to reach a consensus. It is
development practice, and he is currently the recommended to include something similar
professor of housing and urban development. next year - the workshop was a vehicle for
The workshop included a simulation of learning and understanding.
common problems encountered within the
field. Eli Grønn gave us a vivid and authentic
introduction to some of the challenges
experienced by urban populations. Using the Dr. Ingun B Amundsen
example of the Villas Miserias in Buenos Aires, Co-Chairman
Argentina, she elucidated the grave issues
linked to insecurity and poverty that people Habitat Norway
face in this kind of context.
The workshop exercise consisted of role plays
where the participants were subdivided into
three groups. Two groups represented the
local community and their different points of
view whilst the third group took on the role of
the “outsider” coming into the community. The
scenario focused on methods of community
involvement and empowerment in the project
identification process. This was done in
order to move away from the conventional
scenario where planners and architects are
simply seen as the providers but where they
do not take into account local experiences,
views and needs. We were advised to avoid
using standard models, despite the fact that
these “blueprint” solutions are often being
69

70. List of participants 01.10.07
Amundsen Ingun B ingun.amundsen@gmail.com Insam/Habitat Norge
Andersen Aasa G aasa@andersens.no Andersens E&D
Berdal Annika
Berg Jørn Are joernare@gmail.com AHO
Binz Annikken a9k1@yahoo.com
Dale Gunnar siv.ark@gunnar-dale.no
Ellefsen Karl Otto Karl.O.Ellefsen@aho.no AHO
Ese Anders ae@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo/Habitat Norge
Ese Mari betongmari@hotmail.com Westerdals
Gjefle Karsten Karsten.Gjefle@norskform.no Norsk Form
Grønn Eli eli@migrant.no migrant a+u
Haffner Benjamin bh@lmr-arkitektur.no
Halseth Lisbeth LiH@lpo.no LPO arkitektur & design as
Hansen Bror bror.hansen@gmail.com BAS
Harboe Lisbet lisbet.harboe@aho.no AHO
Helland Mona mona.helland@krd.dep.no KRD
Hellevang Christian christian.hellevang@ks.no KS
Hennissen Grete Kristin gretekh@stud.ntnu.no NTNU
Hilde Kristin Jahr
Hillestad Anita anita@anitahillestad.org
Hjelle Christian christianhjelle@yahoo.no
Holm Lars Lars.Holm@skanska.no Skanska Norge
Holst Helga
Jinghua Lisbeth lee.ljh@gmail.com
Kiøsterud Tore tore.kiosterud@nova.no NOVA
Kjøsnes Kathrine kathrinekjosnes@gmail.com FN-Sambandet
70

71. Knutslien Sarah Sarah@norskform.no Norsk Form
Lange Tore torlan3@online.no NBBL
Langslet Marit marit@migrant.no migrant a+u
Lauvland Gro gro.lauvland@aho.no AHO
Leren Trine Kvaal trinekle@stud.ntnu.no NTNU
Lyngner Ivar il@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo arkitekter
Minasian Henrik Der henrik@r-o-m.no Galleri ROM
Naganathan Sara saba@broadpark.no
Nygaard Per per.nygaard@krd.dep.no KRD
Riska Minna minna@spacegroup.no Spacegroup
Ruden Anne anne.ruden@husbanken.no Husbanken
Rydland Asbjørn arydland@gmail.com Habitat Norge
Rønhovde Tomas vinglo81@gmail.com
Sandbakken Camilla cas@nca.no Kirkens Nødhjelp
Schønheyder Caroline T. carolts@student.hf.uio.no UIO
Sem-Olsen Ina Bakka ibso@mail.com BAS
Stedje Hilde hilde@in4mail.no Informal
Stork Karel karel.stork@c2i.net Stork Prosjekt AS
Strandbygaard Mikkel
Sunde Henning hs@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo arkitekter
Svela Audhild audhild@in4mal.no Informal
Trae Marit maritrae@stud.ntnu.no NTNU
Tøllefsen Liz Eva lizeva@gmail.com BAS
Wilhelmsen Marit marit.wilhelmsen@fn.no FN-Sambandet
Ågotsdatter Hanne
71

72. Workshop Participants 29.09.07
Amundsen Ingun B ingun.amundsen@gmail.com Insam/Habitat Norge
Ask Øystein oystein.ask@asplan.no Asplan Viak
Berg Ingvild ingvildberg@hotmail.com
Bermudez Christian zanatefilms@yahoo.com
Ese Jo je@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo arkitekter
Ese Anders ae@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo arkitekter
Haffner Benjamin haffner@stud.ntnu.no NTNU
Hansen Bror R. bror.hansen@gmail.com BAS
Hjelle Christian christianhjelle@yahoo.no
Holhjelm Marita maita.holhjelm@arkitektur.no
Johnsen Thomas Forslund thomasfjohnsen@gmail.com BAS
Rydland Asbjørn arydland@gmail.com Habitat Norge
Rønhovde Tomas vinglo81@gmail.com
Sem-Olsen Ina Bakka ibso@mail.com BAS
Svela Audhild audhild@in4mal.no Informal
Trae Marit maritrae@stud.ntnu.no BAS
Tøllefsen Liz Eva lizeva@gmail.com BAS
Vitanza Erik Snøhetta
72

73. Workshop Holders/Crew
Robbins Edward edward.robbins@aho.no AHO
Hamdi Nabeel nabs.hamdi@gmail.com Oxford Brookes University
Grønn Eli eli@migrant.no migrant a+u
Ese Anders ae@rodeo-arkitekter.no Rodeo arkitekter
Contributors/Lecturers
Robbins Edward edward.robbins@aho.no AHO
Svendsen Sven Erik svenerik.svendsen@ark.ntnu.no NTNU
Grønning Øystein oystein@migrant.no migrant a+u
Berg Erik erik.berg@mfa.no UD
Hamdi Nabeel nabs.hamdi@gmail.com Oxford Brookes University
Grønn Eli eli@migrant.no migrant a+u
73