City making in the Global South has been notoriously characterized for its simultaneous, although differing modes of operation: a formally planned and legal one that meets the needs and buying power of the wealthier part of the population, and an unplanned, illegal one, caused by the unmet demand of the remaining part. As a result, self-built homes and spontaneous settlements have emerged, creating a built environment that embeds social and economic inequality.

For several decades, cities in Latin America have made significant investments to re verse this trend. However, improvement efforts alone have not been enough to lift the negative stigma from these territories. Recognition of barrios, villas and favelas as parts of the city is a task still pending.

In a critical review of upgrading interventions, the presence of public space emerges as a key transformative element. The publication argues to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.

The Book 'Pure Space' is not intended to serve only as a catalogue, guide, or manual on how to produce public space in spontaneous settlements. Rather, it goes beyond the aims of an index of best practices. It is intended, instead, as an empirical base for a critical and theoretical engagement with the problematic of development, social inclusion, public investment, (in)formal settlement, civil society and the public sphere.

The publication achieves its final function at this third level, by providing a compelling argument to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities  - spaces that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.

City making in the Global South has been notoriously characterized for its simultaneous, although differing modes of operation: a formally planned and legal one that meets the needs and buying power of the wealthier part of the population, and an unplanned, illegal one, caused by the unmet demand of the remaining part. As a result, self-built homes and spontaneous settlements have emerged, creating a built environment that embeds social and economic inequality.

For several decades, cities in Latin America have made significant investments to re verse this trend. However, improvement efforts alone have not been enough to lift the negative stigma from these territories. Recognition of barrios, villas and favelas as parts of the city is a task still pending.

In a critical review of upgrading interventions, the presence of public space emerges as a key transformative element. The publication argues to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.

The Book 'Pure Space' is not intended to serve only as a catalogue, guide, or manual on how to produce public space in spontaneous settlements. Rather, it goes beyond the aims of an index of best practices. It is intended, instead, as an empirical base for a critical and theoretical engagement with the problematic of development, social inclusion, public investment, (in)formal settlement, civil society and the public sphere.

The publication achieves its final function at this third level, by providing a compelling argument to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities  - spaces that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.