istanbul technical university
faculty of architecture
ws2010/11
housing in developing countries
philip stapel
„Self-Help“ Housing and Participation Projects in house building in developing countries
abstract This essay handles the controversial terms of "self-help" and participatory housing projects. Before analysing some case studies of applied projects, the general conditions of housing shortage in connection with the transformation from rural/feudal to urban/capitalistic society are reflected. A focus is set towards the laws of private property of the means of production and its effects on settlement structures in so called developing countries. Basic theories of housing and settlement upgrading are introduced as well as a range of criticism of urban-political practices. 1