Participatory design: instruments for the improvement of informal settlements. Lima case study

For the improvement of the habitat of low-income communities in informal settlements, proposals with a participatory approach are an alternative and allow results that respect the customs, the logic of living and the context. Likewise, they involve the population in the process and contribute to improving the population's quality of life.
Lima is a clear example of the continuous spontaneous and informal growth of human settlements in vulnerable areas, as a result of migrations from the countryside to the city, causing a fragmentation in the metropolitan territory. The research proposes to investigate the different modes of participation and community dynamics exercised by the various actors in informal settlements and to develop participatory design instruments for decision-making in urban interventions with a view to their application by public institutions.

The accelerated development of the city of Lima is characterized by urban growth without planning made up of 2,107 human settlements where 54% of the population lives. Faced with this scenario, some initiatives of the state and of groups arise for the improvement of informal settlements, however, the proposed solutions are generic and do not incorporate the population in decision-making or consider the specific needs of the inhabitants. Participatory design is presented as an effective and sustainable tool; reformulating the usual practice of the designer architect, also turning it into a process facilitator.
On the other hand, participatory design methods are generally used in other disciplines and their application in urban planning is limited and is often confused with welfare. Likewise, participatory design instruments are unknown because they are dispersed and applied to specific cases.
Faced with this, it is necessary to develop a participatory design instrument for decision-making and urban interventions in informal settlements that allows solutions to be generated according to the needs and the local context, in this way community ties could be strengthened and the community empowered. population. Likewise, state entities could incorporate participatory design practices and ex-post evaluation in the improvement of informal settlements.