Modern Vernacular Architecture and Circular Economy in Informal Settlements

This chapter investigates circular economyCircular economy practicesPractices in the informal housingInformal housing construction sector based on case studies situated in Africa, Asia, and South America. The examined cases highlight the application of circular material use within the informal settlementsInformal settlements largely based on downcyclingDowncycling, first through reuseReuse and subsequently recycling. In addition, one case exemplifies upcycled waste from the formal city used as interior and exterior cladding of housing. Moreover, the chapter highlights deliberate design strategies for dwelling expansion that enable housing adaptations to accommodate future household needs according to the available economicEconomic resources, underscoring distinct approaches to the circular economyCircular economy in dwelling design that constitute forms of resilient urbanism. The presented cases underscore that the use of reclaimed materials for construction is a notable common practice in informal settlementsInformal settlements, particularly among low-income groups, although almost all housing across all cases were made of virgin industrial construction materials. The findings underscore that traditional vernacular architectureVernacular architecture is a relatively marginal phenomenon in contemporary urban areas in the Global SouthGlobal south, as industrial construction materials such as corrugated iron sheets and reinforced concreteMaterialsconcrete have proliferated based on market mechanisms.