Growth of Urban Forms in Informal Settlements: A Study of Streetscapes in Mlalakuwa Neighborhood, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This paper examines the streetscapes as an urban form in the Mlalakuwa informal settlement in the Kinondoni district of Dar es Salaam. It investigates how the various spatial organisations manifest themselves through the multiple streets. By using observation and mapping methods, we look at how streetscapes are evolving in tandem with growing urban forms, following population densities and activity changes. We study how the conglomeration of urban forms, which appears to expedite the layouts of the streetscapes to range in size and shape, allows the creation of distinct morphological spaces. Originally, the streetscapes in the Mlalakuwa neighbourhood had an interesting territorial depth where collectivity and community interaction occurred. The changing of the verandas of houses into shops and workshops and the construction of thorn hedges and sturdy fences erected on properties illustrate a shift in streetscapes. This shift creates sometimes interesting new possibilities, but also important losses. Next to the appearance of novel collective spaces around the new commercial functions, they also generate harsher, non-friendly spaces that have a specific relationship with their surroundings, urban fabrics of open spaces, and urban identities. Because of the increasing population, the densification of open spaces for social and economic activities has become a significant feature in the urban form. From the year 2000 to the year 2020, there has been an increase in new types of social and economic activities when services appeared not only for the neighbourhood but also for the surrounding city. This resulted in a reduction in the urban permeability of some open spaces that were, at the time, enjoyed by the local community. The study showed that 8 of the 13 streets are defined by a diversity of commercial activities. At the same time, the ongoing erection of thorn hedges and solid fences for security purposes creates hard divisions between private and public spaces. Insight on these changes may help to shape strategic urban planning and the prompt adoption of sensible streetscape strategies in developing cities and informal settlements.