Characterization of Informal Urbanization in Soacha and Monterrey
Understanding the Gradients of Informality
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12497150 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Elfide Mariela Rivas Gómez (0000-0003-4011-0119, Tecnológico de Monterrey), Elfide Mariela Rivas-Gómez (Tecnológico de Monterrey), Carlos Alberto Torres-Tovar (0000-0001-5946-1838, Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Natalia García-Cervantes (0000-0002-9909-1496, Tecnológico de Monterrey, corresponding author), Lucía Elizondo Jiménez (Tecnológico de Monterrey), Lucia Elizondo (0000-0002-1155-7926, Tecnológico de Monterrey), Álvaro Ibata-Ceballos (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Space and Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1206-3312 • E-ISSN: 1552-8308 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/12063312261423002 |
| OpenAlex | W7140143108 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
This study examines the phenomenon of informal urbanization in the municipalities of Soacha (Colombia) and Monterrey (México) through a comparative methodological approach, building on Dovey’s morphogenic logic and field data, which enable the analysis of the spatial and morphological dynamics structuring informal settlements. The study also examines the provision of basic services and housing materiality, underscoring the challenges posed by insufficient infrastructure and precarious materials. Through a comparative approach, the research seeks to characterize the growth patterns and challenges associated with informal urbanization in these areas, highlighting both the similarities and contextual particularities of each case. The findings suggest that while informality is driven by similar socioeconomic factors, the geographic and political contexts of Soacha and Monterrey shape distinct urban forms and challenges. Through a situated approach, our work foregrounds the importance of supplementing morphogenetic approaches with outreach to community and territories, to deepen the understanding of informal urbanization that resists dichotomic approaches and recognizes its different gradients
Field (mathematics · Informal sector · Outreach · Phenomenon · Situated · Socioeconomic status · Structuring · Urbanization · Latin American Urban Studies · Urban and Rural Development Challenges · Urban Planning and Governance
Constructing ordinary places
Rethinking Informality
Informal / formal morphogenesis in Latin American settlements
Shaping Public Space in Informal Settlements
City, Nation, Network
Morphogenesis of contemporary informal settlement in Chile
Urban Informality as a Site of Critical Analysis
The Formalization of Urban Land Tenure in Developing Countries
Misteri i Kapitalit
Land Policy
Testing the Informal Development Stages Framework Globally
Theoretical Notes On `Gray Cities
Petty commodity housing or dweller control? A critique of John Turner's views on housing policy
Financialization of housing policies in Latin America
Power, Ideology and the Washington Consensus
Towards a morphogenesis of informal settlements
Neoliberalizing Space
Thinking with and beyond the informal–formal relation in urban thought
Planet of Slums
Brief History of Neoliberalism
Urban Informality
New Globalism, New Urbanism
The limits of land titling and home ownership
Why India Cannot Plan Its Cities
The Return of the Slum
Peripheral urbanization
Modest Expectations
Neglected? Strengthening the Morphological Study of Informal Settlements
Occupancy Urbanism
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |