At a time when architectural and urban studies are moving towards seeking to accept and understand informal neighborhoods rather than ignoring or eradicating them, the need for experiments on the ground is becoming increasingly urgent. In recent years, a growing number of architects and spatial practitioners have begun to act on their commitment to the idea that these settlements are here to stay and require selective intervention in order to achieve better living conditions. This publication contributes to the development of new approaches to the subject of informal neighborhoods in the architectural field. It analyses feasible and effective practical actions located in three different continents (Africa, America, and Asia), drawing upon empiric work to contextualize concrete neighborhoods: Chicala (Luanda, Angola), T Camp (Delhi, India), and La Palomera (Caracas, Venezuela). The book is complemented by theoretical contributions acknowledging the deeply intertwined nature of spatial practice, cultural identity and social engagement.

Paulo Moreira is a Porto-based architect and researcher. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto (Portugal), having studied also at the Accademia di architettura (Mendrisio, Switzerland). He received his PhD from London Metropolitan University (UK). He participated in La Biennale di Venezia (2014, 2016, 2021), Lisbon Architecture Triennale (2007, 2013), Oslo Architecture Triennale (2016, 2019). He was awarded several grants and prizes, including: Prize for Social Entrepreneurship (London Met, 2009) and Noel Hill Travel Award (American Institute of Architects-UK Chapter, 2009). He was a finalist in the RIBA President’s Award for Research 2019, Cities & Community category, and edited Critical Neighbourhoods: The Architecture of Contested Communities (Park Books, 2022). Moreira conducted research on informal settlements at the Agostinho Neto University (Angola) and the Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon. Since 2023, he is a Centennial Postdoctoral Fellow, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa).