Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez, Amanda Toro-Salinas & Natan Waintrub
Abstract
There is a prolific body of literature investigating the impacts of the built environment on different aspects of people’s lives. However, the studies focusing on people who are in underprivileged positions, live in deprived neighbourhoods or experience both conditions are scant. This article addresses these discussions by investigating the influence of the built environment on street activities from the perspectives of people living in deprived neighbourhoods developed under the umbrella of Chilean social housing policies. To that end, it explores the perceptions of residents of deprived neighbourhoods of Santiago (Chile) and reports the analysis of a set of interviews where they were invited to converse about the trajectory of their neighbourhood, its community, public life, physical features, and future. The findings suggest the built environment influences the life of the streets of deprived neighbourhoods in at least three ways. The—often—poor conditions of the houses push to the streets activities that belong to the private sphere. The urban form and the presence of facilities shape how communities are understood and promote encounters between neighbours. The deficient pedestrian infrastructure and the lack of vegetation hinder recreational activities and are seen as reminders of the profound inequalities from which Santiago suffers. Moreover, the results show that the residents of deprived neighbourhoods feel trapped in places where they can survive yet not thrive.
