Place design and urban informality: Insights from Southern urbanism

Urban informalities, including informal settlements, street vending, and informal transport, remain a defining feature of place in cities of the Global South. This study explores the interrelations between these informal practices, advocating for a shift beyond conventional views on urban design and place transformation. It highlights the interdependencies between urban formalities and informalities, drawing on multiple illustrations from cities in the Global South. The paper concludes by calling for research that bridges global insights with local realities, providing a more nuanced understanding of how places work in practice across diverse urban contexts in the Global South.