I2UD Digital Library Study Guide: Informal Settlements Photograph Album

The I2UD Digital Library hosts the I2UD Photograph Collection and the MSDA Photograph Collection. These galleries present a visual survey of urban housing, landscapes, and building typologies from the 1970s to 2010s, from around the globe. Galleries consist of around 12,000 images, digitized from 35mm film slides, a subset of the more than 47,000 slides in I2UD’s collections.

To complement the ‘Understanding Informal Settlements and Slum Upgrading’ Study Guide, this curated photograph gallery showcases the rich diversity of contexts and typologies of informal settlements captured in the I2UD archive. Spanning eight countries and twelve cities, these images offer a vivid portrayal of urban life, from sprawling panoramas of informal housing clusters to intimate street scenes and home interiors. These images highlight the complexities and nuances of informal urbanization.

Aerial view of a dense informal market. Transport nodes and markets are often together. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 1991.

1. Aerial view of a dense informal market. Transport nodes and markets are often together. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 1991.

Image ID: abidjan-04-009
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 2: Côte d’Ivoire

Informal settlement on the periphery of Abidjan. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 1991.

2. Informal settlement on the periphery of Abidjan. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 1991.

Image ID: abidjan-04-010
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 2: Côte d’Ivoire

Aerial view of a dense informal settlement along Abidjan waterfront. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 1991.

3. Aerial view of a dense informal settlement along Abidjan waterfront. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 1991.

Image ID: abidjan-07-041
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 2: Côte d’Ivoire

External view of Bab Siffer settlement in Fes. Fes, Morocco, 1987.

4. External view of Bab Siffer settlement in Fes. Fes, Morocco, 1987.

Image ID: morocco-fes-01-129
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 10: Morocco

Streetview of Bab Siffer settlement. Fes, Morocco, 1987.

5. Streetview of Bab Siffer settlement. Fes, Morocco, 1987.

Image ID: morocco-fes-01-148
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 10: Morocco

Housing built with mud brick. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1989.

6. Housing built with mud brick. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1989.

Image ID: zaire-kinshasa-06-035
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 5: Congo (DRC)

Large restaurant and informal gathering space in Kinshasa. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1989.

7. Large restaurant and informal gathering space in Kinshasa. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1989.

Image ID: zaire-kinshasa-06-102
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 5: Congo (DRC)

Bird's-eye view of informal development sprawling up the hillsides of Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.

8. Bird’s-eye view of informal development sprawling up the hillsides of Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.

Image ID: venezuela-caracas-01-009
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 16: Venezuela

Dense informal settlement built up hillside. Note the high risk for landslide of many structures. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989-1995.

9. Dense informal settlement built up hillside. Note the high risk for landslide of many structures. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989-1995.

Image ID: m03-latin-america-31-014
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M03-4, Latin America

Informal settlement built up hillside. Note the informally constructed stairs and electrical infrastructure. Caracas, Venezuela, 1990.

10. Informal settlement built up hillside. Note the informally constructed stairs and electrical infrastructure. Caracas, Venezuela, 1990.

Image ID: m03-latin-america-32-004
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M03-4, Latin America

Structures built in precarious cliffside in Caracas at risk for for landslides. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.

11. Structures built in precarious cliffside in Caracas at risk for for landslides. Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.

Image ID: venezuela-caracas-01-023
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 16: Venezuela

Informal settlement built along a river in Ecuador. Many structures are built on stilts over the water. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

12. Informal settlement built along a river in Ecuador. Many structures are built on stilts over the water. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

Image ID: m03-latin-america-12-005
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M03-2, Latin America

Informal home and toilet/bathhouse built over the water in Ecuador. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

13. Informal home and toilet/bathhouse built over the water in Ecuador. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

Image ID: m03-latin-america-10-004
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M03-2, Latin America

Interior of informal home (shown in previous image) built on stilts over the water. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

14. Interior of informal home (shown in previous image) built on stilts over the water. Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1999.

Image ID: m03-latin-america-10-005
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M03-2, Latin America

5-story walk-up public housing in Cairo with large public spaces and courtyards. Cairo, Egypt, 1990.

15. Five-story walk-up public housing in Cairo with large public spaces and courtyards. Cairo, Egypt, 1990.

Image ID: cairo-sustainability-01-044
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 6: Egypt

Bustling streetscape in Ghoneim informal settlement showing mixed use structures, multiple modes of transport, and incremental construction. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

16. Bustling streetscape in Ghoneim informal settlement showing mixed use structures, multiple modes of transport, and incremental construction. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

Image ID: egypt-cairo-ghoniem-02-005
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 7: Egypt

Bird's-eye view of Ghoneim settlement showing rapid growth and incremental construction. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

17. Bird’s-eye view of Ghoneim settlement showing rapid growth and incremental construction. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

Image ID: egypt-cairo-ghoniem-03-002
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 7: Egypt

Drainage canals in Ghoneim settlement before upgrading. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

18. Drainage canals in Ghoneim settlement before upgrading. Helwan, Egypt, 1986.

Image ID: egypt-cairo-ghoniem-01-010
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 7: Egypt

In-progress upgrading of drainage and electrical infrastructure in Ghoneim informal settlement. Helwan, Cairo, 1986.

19. In-progress upgrading of drainage and electrical infrastructure in Ghoneim informal settlement. Helwan, Cairo, 1986.

Image ID: egypt-cairo-ghoniem-10-003
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 7: Egypt

Informal highrise with ground-level shops and incremental rooftop construction in Ghoneim settlement. Helwan, Egypt, 1980-1982.

20. Informal highrise with ground-level shops and incremental rooftop construction in Ghoneim settlement. Helwan, Egypt, 1980-1982.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-22-012
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-3, Informal Housing, Cairo

Peripheral area of Ghoneim informal settlement built out of mud bricks. Image showcases initial stage of lower density development. Helwan, Egypt, 1980-1982.

21. Peripheral area of Ghoneim informal settlement built out of mud bricks. Image showcases initial stage of lower density development. Helwan, Egypt, 1980-1982.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-23-005
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-3, Informal Housing, Cairo

Bustling Cairo settlement streetscape with shops and mixed use. Cairo, Egypt, 1985.

22. Bustling Cairo settlement streetscape with shops and mixed use. Cairo, Egypt, 1985.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-71-041
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-10, Informal Housing, Cairo

Bird's-eye view of roof tops of informal buildings in Lahore showcasing incremental construction and use of outside spaces. Lahore, Pakistan, 1982.

23. Bird’s-eye view of roof tops of informal buildings in Lahore showcasing incremental construction and use of outside spaces. Lahore, Pakistan, 1982.

Image ID: lahore-pak-l-02-001
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 11: Pakistan

Informal development along the river in Karachi. Note the infilling of the waterfront land with solid waste. Karachi, Pakistan, 1993.

24. Informal development along the river in Karachi. Note the infilling of the waterfront land with solid waste. Karachi, Pakistan, 1993.

Image ID: karachi-pak-k-05-001
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 11: Pakistan

Informal housing showing incremental construction developed along the road in Muharraq. Muharraq, Bahrain.

25. Informal housing showing incremental construction developed along the road in Muharraq. Muharraq, Bahrain.

Image ID: bahrain-027
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 3: Bahrain

Housing being built incrementally along the road in Tunis. Tunis, Tunisia, circa 1984-1990.

26. Housing being built incrementally along the road in Tunis. Tunis, Tunisia, circa 1984-1990.

Image ID: tunisia-tunis-01-037
Source gallery: I2UD Photograph Collection, Gallery 13: Tunisia

Depiction of incremental housing development using Helwan informal settlements as an example. Helwan, Egypt.

27. Depiction of incremental housing development using Helwan informal settlements as an example. Helwan, Egypt.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-05-001
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-1, Informal Housing, Cairo

Floor plans of different types of informal settlement structures in Cairo. Cairo, Egypt.

28. Floor plans of different types of informal settlement structures in Cairo. Cairo, Egypt.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-03-001
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-1, Informal Housing, Cairo

Example floor plan of structure built around internal courtyard in Tunis informal settlement. Tunis, Tunisia.

29. Example floor plan of structure built around internal courtyard in Tunis informal settlement. Tunis, Tunisia.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-03-011
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-1, Informal Housing, Cairo

Example of residential unit in an informal structure showcasing incremental construction and use of different floors. Rabat, Morocco.

30. Example of residential unit in an informal structure showcasing incremental construction and use of different floors. Rabat, Morocco.

Image ID: m01-egypt-cairo-03-025
Source gallery: MSDA Photograph Collection M01-1, Informal Housing, Cairo

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