Urban Informality Tactics Through the Layers of Socio-Spatial Connectivity

Abstract

Informalities in urban settings are often characterized by the emergence of events and spaces produced by urban actors that are established beyond the formal, predefined urban structure. The emergence of such events and spaces reflects the fact that the structure of urban environments can only be comprehended by thoroughly examining the everyday spatial practices that occur within them. This chapter discusses urban informality as the spatial tactics employed by members of society as urban actors. These tactics are demonstrated through spatial actions and spatial arrangements that maneuver beyond the formal structure of the built environment in which everyday life occurs. This chapter presents the case of a communal event held in an urban neighborhood in Indonesia that demonstrates layers of spatial connectivity produced by informal acts during socio-cultural events. The emerging layers of informality overlap with the formal layers of urban space to produce layers of spatial connectivity that form the essence of spatial informality. These layers demonstrate society's creative and responsive acts in various ways—maneuvering within the predefined urban spatial structure, manifestation through connectivity of activities, connectivity of inside-outside spaces, and connectivity established by time. While the layers are not fully independent of the predefined structure, they demonstrate the robustness of collective tactics regarding the utilization of spatial and temporal resources. Understanding these layers of connectivity is critical to reorienting urban design in such a way as to acknowledge the emergence of alternative layers beyond the formal urban structure.