Spontaneous settlements in Turkey and Bangladesh: Preconditions of emergence and environmental quality of gecekondu settlements and bustees

Spontaneous settlements are common phenomena in many third world countries. Although the different geographical locations, along with morphological fa ctors, play an important role in shaping up different physical settings, dy namic social factors have similar consequences in such settlements. Ankara' s gecekondu and Dhaka's bustees are in continuous change and adaptation int o the structure of the cities in which they exist. Both remain as popular h ousing in the respective capitals of Turkey and Bangladesh. The aim of this paper is to find similarities and dissimilarities among gecekondu and bust ees, giving an emphasis to five fundamental issues. Those are location of t he settlement within the city, appropriation of land and ownership patterns , economic possibilities of the inhabitants, cultural and local dynamics of formation and uses of space, and last, the transformation of the settlemen ts. Despite all physical and social dissimilarities, ownership patterns are perhaps the key factor in the development of such settlements both in Anka ra and in Dhaka. The main commonality is that those settlements provide not only shelter but also possibilities to satisfy other needs for their inhab itants. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.