Informality in the urban landscape: The urban-geographical transformation of Belgrade's informal settlements

Abstract

Informal settlements represent an urban-geographic phenomenon that has shaped the urban landscape of Belgrade for decades. During the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, these settlements developed from peripheral and marginalized areas into established parts of the urban fabric. Their long-term presence in space indicates that informality is not a temporary phenomenon, but a lasting outcome of urbanization processes. The largest informal settlements in Belgrade are located on the northern, northeastern, and southeastern outskirts of the city, as well as on the left bank of the Danube, and they tend to expand in multiple directions. They emerged under the influence of complex historical, geopolitical, and socio-economic circumstances, and although they are diverse, they share certain common features related to their formation and spatial-functional organization. Starting from the assumption that these settlements are not isolated spatial anomalies, the paper aims to examine their place and role within the urban system of Belgrade. The paper provides an overview of the origin and development of Belgrade's informal settlements, their spatial distribution and basic morphological characteristics, as well as their impact on the transformation of urban space. Special attention is given to the contemporary functioning of these settlements, which are perceived as spaces of active living, characterized by strong self-help mechanisms, a high level of resilience, and an important role of local communities. In this way, the paper challenges the dominant narrative that views informal settlements exclusively as a problem, and raises the question on their potential as part of the solution to housing and urban challenges under conditions of limited institutional capacity.