Formalisation of the Informal: Can Vertical Community Spaces Enable Equitable High-Density Slum Upgrades in Bangkok?

By 2050, nearly 68% of the global population will reside in urban areas, while 1.6 billion people already inhabit informal settlements lacking tenure security, basic services, and public space. This study explores whether vertically integrated community spaces can enable medium- to high-rise slum upgrading in Bangkok, where land scarcity constrains conventional low-rise approaches. A research-by-design methodology, conducted through a postgraduate studio in collaboration with a local community, informs the investigation. Spatial analysis, mapping, and participatory processes guided the development of modular walk-up block proposals, featuring stacked semi-public ‘streets-in-the-sky’ and compact communal spaces. These configurations offer vertical social interaction zones, economic potential via shophouses above ground level, and environmental benefits through enhanced daylight penetration and cross ventilation. Findings indicate an improved sense of belonging, social cohesion, and place identity despite vertical displacement. Vertically shared spaces demonstrate capacity to align high-density urban forms with evolving informal practices, providing a replicable, climate-responsive model for inclusive regeneration in rapidly urbanising contexts across the Global South.