What if the poor were part of city planning? | Smruti Jukur Johari

Summary

The speaker challenges the conventional imagery of cities, highlighting the often overlooked 'city within the city' where the urban poor reside. They discuss the misconceptions about the poor, including the myth of migration as a problem and the paternalistic approach of professionals making choices for them. Through personal experience and examples, they advocate for giving the urban poor a choice in their living conditions, showcasing how communities can effectively plan and improve their own habitats when empowered. The talk concludes with a call to action for governments and professionals to respect and support the choices of the poor in creating inclusive cities.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Cities often have hidden informal settlements, home to poor people labeled as illegal or informal, though they are simply individuals with limited choices.
• 🔄 Poverty is a vicious cycle, often trapping families for generations, forcing them to live in uninhabitable spaces without basic services like clean water and toilets.
• 👨‍⚕️ The speaker’s personal experience growing up with a father treating patients in Bombay’s slums sparked their desire to address issues faced by the urban poor.
• 🏗️ The speaker realized that traditional architecture primarily serves the rich, and shifted to urban planning to support the needs of the poor.
• 🌍 Migration of poor people into cities is often viewed as a problem, but the reality is that these individuals are essential to keeping cities functioning, working in critical but underpaid roles.
• 💡 A key myth about poverty is the belief that professionals know best. In reality, poor people know their own needs and should be given the opportunity to choose solutions that suit them.
• 🏠 The poor aspire to better living conditions just like others, and when given the choice, they design homes that meet their unique needs, such as loft spaces for work and family.
• 🚽 Standardized solutions, like placing toilets inside homes, often don't align with the needs of the poor. Community-driven solutions, like shared toilets, provide better outcomes in some cases.
• 📊 Informal settlements, like Mukuru in Nairobi, represent vast populations that cities and governments often overlook, but when these communities organize, they can achieve basic services and rights, such as water and sanitation.
• 🤝 Collaborative efforts between governments and poor communities, like the planning done in Mukuru, show that when given choice and agency, poor people can help build more inclusive and functional cities.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about cities that the speaker addresses?

The speaker addresses the misconception that cities are only what is visibly seen, and that there is a 'city within the city' which includes areas often seen as slums or informal settlements.

How does the speaker describe the living conditions of people in slums?

The speaker describes the living conditions as harsh, with people living in spaces without clean water, toilets, or proper housing, often along train tracks, rivers, and swamps.

What personal experience influenced the speaker's decision to become an architect and later an urban planner?

The speaker was influenced by accompanying their father, a doctor, to treat patients in the slums of Bombay from the age of six, which led to a desire to improve the living conditions of the urban poor.

Why did the speaker feel the need to 'unlearn' after years of professional education?

The speaker felt the need to 'unlearn' because their training in architecture, design, and planning failed to address the ground realities of the urban poor and did not align with their needs and aspirations.

What are the two myths about the poor that the speaker wants to dispel?

The two myths are: 1) The perception that migration of poor people into cities is a problem, and 2) The attitude that professionals know better and should make choices for the poor.

How does the speaker challenge the idea that migration of poor people into cities is a problem?

The speaker challenges this idea by questioning whether migration is really a choice and by illustrating the essential roles that the poor play in the functioning of cities.

What was the turning point for the speaker in a workshop designing houses for poor families?

The turning point was when a lady from the slum questioned the presenter about living in shipping containers, highlighting that poverty does not change aspirations, only affordability.

How did the women of Mahila Milan demonstrate their capability to design and construct their own houses?

The women of Mahila Milan used everyday items like floor mats and saris to understand measurements and demonstrate house models, creating options for their fellow residents to choose from.

What is the significance of the Mukuru example in the speaker's narrative?

Mukuru is significant as it shows how a community of slum dwellers, with the support of the government, can develop their own plans and standards for improving living conditions without being displaced.

What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about the role of choice in building inclusive cities?

The main message is that choice is crucial, and instead of imposing choices on the poor, those in power should respect and empower their choices to build better and more inclusive cities.