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RETHINKING INFORMALITY: EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING INTERPRETING INFORMALITY

Generate a realistic image based on the following description of urban informality. “A small, unplanned community, almost built up on a whim or quickly. Not super tall structures, mainly one story houses and community spaces would be smaller as well. Lots of activity and people, some children playing in the street while people are shopping or working. Lots of families. Closely packed together with no grid system or organized structure, not many open spaces towards the center but can be spread out as you move out. Structures are all similar material like clay bricks. Add more people into the image. Add diversity to the types of people

IMAGE 1: BASED ON INITIAL UNDERSTANDING

TAYLOR CANNON

RETHINKING INFORMALITY: EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING INTERPRETING INFORMALITY

My initial understanding of informal urbanism was shaped by the perception that these areas were built quickly and on a whim with lots of activity and people densley packed together.

The AI, Google Gemini, assumed unbrellas for to match the description it was given of a busy street with lots of shopping and activity.

Location of this image was assumed by AI, Types of people and materiality was all assumed by the AI. The description only gave clay bricks but everything else from metal overhangs and dirt road structure was all assumed.

When asked to diversify the types of people, AI added someone in a wheelchair then touristy looking people.

02 IMAGE 1: BASED ON INITIAL UNDERSTANDING

TAYLOR CANNON

RETHINKING INFORMALITY: EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING INTERPRETING INFORMALITY

Generate a realistic image based on the following prompt: “A densely packed settlement with houses built from brick or concrete. The houses are mostly more than one story with balconies overlooking the street. Narrow streets that are still big enough to fit cars but there are only a couple cars parked along the street or in front of houses. There are a couple taxis around and a smaller bus that is picking up some people on their way to work. Some people are riding bikes to work, there are some parked bikes along the street. There are a wide range of ages of people because of multigenerational families staying together. There is a lot of interaction between people. There is only one, small open area for kids to play and the settlement is right outside a big city, not entirely separate from it.

IMAGE 1: BASED ON INITIAL UNDERSTANDING

TAYLOR CANNON

RETHINKING INFORMALITY: EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING INTERPRETING INFORMALITY

After engaging in class reading and discussions, my understanding of informality has changed to that the materiality can be more permanent and tend to layer on top of each other due to multigenerational houses. There is also can be some infastructure like taxis or bus system. Still lots of enagagement of people within the settlement as community can be very important for these areas.

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Location of this image was still assumed with AI but the big city looming over the settlement is a good representation of how these settlements can be located next to main cities. Even the types of taxis were assumed by AI.

The sense of community was important to be expressed and it can be seen through the people interacting and the park, even though AI placed it strangely in the image, these spaces are still important in these settlements.

AI added in its own details like laundry hanging on balconies and the use of greenery.

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IMAGE 2: BASED ON REVISED UNDERSTANDING

TAYLOR CANNON