It is interesting to observe how private space was appropriated by the residents of Colonia El Pepeto by analyzing the recurring and contrasting patterns, while keeping in mind that the project was in part an incremental self-help process.
The sanitary unit was built by mutual help for every plot. This gave access to water (WC, shower, wash basin) and sewerage to each family. By comparison, we know that in the 1970s, only 40% of houses benefited from water supply and sewerage in El Salvador.1 This bad sanitation encouraged the proliferation of gastro-intestinal diseases, which were one of the main causes of death in the country.2 Therefore, the easy access to these services was seen as a great opportunity. Half of the plots were already provided with a basic dwelling, so were more expensive, but often chosen by the lowest income families such as unmarried women with children or elderly persons who couldn’t undertake construction. Families with higher income often chose less complete units, in order to then invest more in designing them how they wanted.3
This gave a good start for the next steps that were made by self-help. The occupants benefited from a (local) construction material credit to build a habitable house, adapted to their needs and incomes. We can differentiate three types of finished dwellings. The Funcional house required the least amount of investment. Families just added a room or more and, interestingly, window bars. We understand that security is a priority for Salvadorians because of gang activity.4 Most people opted for the Consolidadà house; they expanded the rooms and amenities, and resorted to aesthetic changes, like painting the facades. Finally, a third group built second and sometimes third stories, and upgraded services such as the kitchen; this is known as the Ampliada type.
Comparison between sites-and-services houses and random Salvadorian houses. Source: Gattoni, George, Reinhard Goethert and Roberto Chavez. El Salvador: Self-Help and Incremental Housing: Likely Directions for Future Policy. IDB, 15 Oct. 2011.
Most families live in a Consolidadà or an Ampliada house, even though more than half are considered as low-income households. This will for investment can be explained by the great benefits that the occupants can expect from the project. The most important benefit is the security of owning the land, and not taking the risk of being evicted – something that a lot had experienced before, living in an illegal settlement because of the housing deficit in El Salvador.5 For most, this is their first opportunity to have a legal status. In addition, many families previously shared their house with other families. Here, they have the possibility to possess their own space, and hence to appropriate it more easily. Furthermore, hygiene is considerably improved.
Kitchen, probably from a Funcional house. Source: Gattoni, George, Reinhard Goethert and Roberto Chavez. El Salvador: Self-Help and Incremental Housing: Likely Directions for Future Policy. IDB, 15 Oct. 2011.
Another appealing element is the great programming of community facilities by the FSDVM, which were also built by mutual-help – this generated, with the building of houses, a great source of employment and income, and also a strong feeling of community and solidarity.6
Evidence for the great appropriation of the sites-and-services project by the Colonia El Pepeto residents is the resemblance of their houses to any typical slum or private project, whose appearance is totally controlled by the owners. Thus, we can deduce that they had the necessary resources to design their houses how they wanted.
Living space. Source: Gattoni, George, Reinhard Goethert and Roberto Chavez. El Salvador: Self-Help and Incremental Housing: Likely Directions for Future Policy. IDB, 15 Oct. 2011.
Sources
1. International Bank. Report and Recommendation of the President to the Executive Directors on a Proposed Loan and Credit to the Republic of El Salvador for a Sites and Services Project. October 15, 1974.
2. Bamberger, Michael. EI Salvador: A Country Profile, May 1980.
3. World Bank. El Salvador: Second Urban Development Project, April 4, 1977.
4. Gattoni, George, Reinhard Goethert and Roberto Chavez. El Salvador: Self-Help and Incremental Housing: Likely Directions for Future Policy. IDB, 15 Oct. 2011.
5. Ibid.
6. Bamberger, Michael. The First EI Salvador Sites and Services Project: Summary of the Main Findings of a Five-Year Evaluation, July-October 1981.
Cover Image
Comparison of layout site of Soyapango the planned Sites-and-Services project in 1974 vs today. Source: Own work, based on: World Bank. El Salvador: Appraisal of a Sites and Services Project. 20 Sep. 1974.