Uncontrolled urban expansions in Tunisia: A Socio-Morphological study of informal housing

Abstract

Uncontrolled urban expansions pose persistent challenges in Tunisia. This paper emphasizes the significance of studying the housing dynamics generated within these informal settlements to better understand the spatial and social dynamics that govern them. The findings of such analyses provide essential tools for guiding interventions in these neighborhoods, which, to date, have been limited to rehabilitation programs that remain insufficient and partial, addressing only basic infrastructure needs. These extensions, which have become defining features of urban landscapes, no longer appear to represent a temporary form of housing but rather a social response to a housing crisis and a desire for urban integration. This study focuses on analyzing this form of housing within a recently established informal neighborhood located in the northern suburbs of Tunis, applying the principles of spatial syntax—a method that integrates both the formal dimensions of space and the behaviors of the inhabitants embedded within them. This approach is innovative due to its ambivalence, offering fresh insights into the phenomenon and laying the groundwork for more tailored solutions. Indeed, so-called spontaneous housing is far from the product of impulsive actions; rather, it results from thoughtful and organized processes that align with the living modes and values of its self-taught builders.