Sustainable Cities and Housing - Chapters 7-9

Chapter 7: Sustainable Cities

• A city is defined as an urban area within a country characterized by a large population concentration compared to other areas in the country.
• Population size varies globally, leading to different criteria for city classification.
• Population density is calculated by dividing the number of residents by the land area (km²).
• Cities typically feature tall buildings, such as skyscrapers, and are hubs for administrative, commercial, and financial services.
• Rural areas are marked by smaller population sizes, lower population densities, and low-rise building structures.

Rural-Urban Migration

• Migration from rural areas to urban centers occurs due to various push (negative) and pull (positive) factors.
• Migrants typically seek better opportunities, services, and living conditions available in cities.

Chapter 8: Sustainable Housing

• Housing refers to structures designed to shelter individuals from environmental elements, differentiating between various settlement types: cities, towns, villages, and metropolises.
• Housing can be classified based on height, permanence (temporary such as camps vs. permanent structures), and legality (formal vs. informal).
• Sustainable urban growth often leads to housing shortages as cities expand faster than housing development.

Features of Formal Housing

• Formal housing adheres to urban planning processes conducted by government or private entities, providing security through land rights and access to essential services.
• Examples include Singapore's Housing & Development Board (HDB), which develops public housing.
• High-quality building materials are utilized for formal housing, ensuring durability and safety.

Features of Informal Housing

• Informal housing may lack proper infrastructure, be poorly constructed, and situated in areas vulnerable to pollution and neglect.
• Typically located near landfills, sewage plants, and other industrial sites, informal housing suffers from inadequate access to essential services.

Distribution of Housing Types

• Formal housing is strategically located near green spaces and essential amenities, with good infrastructure in place.
• Informal housing tends to cluster in neglected areas, often characterized by poor living conditions and limited access to utilities.
• Understanding the spatial distribution pattern of housing types can reveal inequalities and inform urban planning efforts.