Proximal design in South African informal settlements: users as designers and the construction of the built environment and its fire risks

Abstract

Informal settlements present a challenge for fire safety because they lack the regulation of building standards that have been central to reducing fire risks elsewhere. Rather than being the product of specialist designers (such as architects and engineers), constrained by regulation, informal settlement dwellings are instead predominantly the work of their occupants. Thus, the design and construction of informal settlement structures can be understood as a result of proximal design by the residents themselves – drawing on the concept proposed by Usenyuk et al. in their 2016 paper “Proximal Design: Users as Designers of Mobility in the Russian North.” This paper applies, and critiques, the proximal design concept through a focus on the informal settlement fire problem in South Africa. Our case study points to weaknesses in the way that Usenyuk et al. apply the concept of proximal design. Not only do Usenyuk et al. emphasize that proximal design involves mastery of a severe environment, but they also fail to give sufficient attention to the social context. Although a focus on proximal design provides insights into the informal settlement fire problem, it is vital that the focus on proximate activities does not obscure the importance of broader societal factors.

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