Abstract
Since the mid-1980s, rural-to-urban migration in China has been taking place at an
unprecedented rate. Many rural villages have been encompassed into newly developed urban
areas in the process of economic and industrial development. These so-called “urban villages”
provide migrants with affordable housing and fundamental utilities. Since urban villages are
constructed and maintained on the basis of self-help in the absence of formal regulations, they
are often associated with squalor, overcrowding and social problems. Consequently, official
policies are foremost heading at demolition and redevelopment of these areas, especially into
large-scale modern living and service facilities.
This paper explores the role that urban villages play in the extremely fast growing metropolis
of Shenzhen. Using data collected from field reconnaissance, interviews, and planning
authorities, we analyse the development of urban villages with respect to their geographical,
social and institutional position in the city system. We find that many urban villages are
critical sub-markets of urban housing, providing a realistic and effective affordable housing
solution for migrants. We suggest that the current policies focusing on redevelopment of
urban villages would lead to immediate and significant housing stress in certain areas, which
may in the long run, negatively impact the openness of the city
unprecedented rate. Many rural villages have been encompassed into newly developed urban
areas in the process of economic and industrial development. These so-called “urban villages”
provide migrants with affordable housing and fundamental utilities. Since urban villages are
constructed and maintained on the basis of self-help in the absence of formal regulations, they
are often associated with squalor, overcrowding and social problems. Consequently, official
policies are foremost heading at demolition and redevelopment of these areas, especially into
large-scale modern living and service facilities.
This paper explores the role that urban villages play in the extremely fast growing metropolis
of Shenzhen. Using data collected from field reconnaissance, interviews, and planning
authorities, we analyse the development of urban villages with respect to their geographical,
social and institutional position in the city system. We find that many urban villages are
critical sub-markets of urban housing, providing a realistic and effective affordable housing
solution for migrants. We suggest that the current policies focusing on redevelopment of
urban villages would lead to immediate and significant housing stress in certain areas, which
may in the long run, negatively impact the openness of the city
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceeding of The 10th N-AERUS conference : Challenges to open cities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East : shared spaces within and beyond, 1-3 October, 2009, IHS Rotterdam |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Keywords
- urban village
- urbanisation
- migrant
- openness
- Shenzhen