People have always been interested in the cities in which they live. As the world becomes increasingly urbanised, the impetus for citizens to improve their urban environments grows. Far from the traditional urban planning culture, they make use of limited resources, offering solutions to face evolving challenges. They focus on the provision of social infrastructure, aiming to improve the living conditions of residents at the local scale. Handmade Urbanism showcases 15 projects, realised mostly in less-favourable areas of five major cities in emerging countries. They examine the potential for urban transformation embedded in community initiatives. What is the basis for such initiatives? Which instruments and tools do they use to achieve their ends? Illustrations depict these operations in-progress, reveal the actors involved and trace the steps required in the organisation of a community initiative. Interviews with experts, participants and various different stakeholders clarify their approach to local challenges. At a global level, common threads and differences are made clear. Handmade Urbanism drafts a possible urban vision of a city impacted by these initiatives. It promotes participatory community projects, while exploring their potential to impact on the city at large - to the benefit of all. This publication accompanies the documentary Urban Future, which provides the reader with further information from the ground.
