Research question ATM

For Research Symposium poster:

Learning from Colonias in Texas:

Analysis of self-organizing structure and urban manifestation in

unincorporated settlements

Introduction:

Colonias are unincorporated

settlements along the U.S. -

Mexico border. They lack physical

infrastructure and civic facilities.

Upgrading colonias requires selforganization

and collective effort in

fi nding, obtaining and implementing

funding programs. Could the effort

benefi t from an alternative urban

form and infrastructure?

Abstract:

The research sets to analyze existing

colonias and propose alternative

infrastructure and urban form in

response to available fi nancial and

organizational capacity.

Hypotheses:

Self-organizing capacity of colonias’

residents is an asset that can be

employed in building settlements.

Alternative infrastructure (water/

sewage) can be cheaper to install,

run, and generates income.

Objective:

Finding a point at which the lack of

access to credit, unemployment,

availability of land, natural resources

and human capital can converge into

a viable unincorporated settlement.

Approach:

→ Case studies of infrastructure

installation in existing colonias in

Texas.

→ Case studies of self-organization

leading to obtaining funds for the

upgrade of physical infrastructure

in colonias in Texas.

→ Case studies of social-enterprise

cities

→ Action research in pilot colonia

in Texas

→ Interviews in colonias

→ Architectural/ urban/ business

proposal