Victor Alegria Corona
Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Urban design
Biography
Víctor is a PhD candidate in Urban Design at the University of Melbourne, Australia, focusing on the evolution of informal settlements in Latin American cities. His research interests include urban informality, urban morphology, and green infrastructure in cities of the Global South. Victor has contributed to research projects on public spaces, nature-based solutions and informal settlements. With extensive professional experience as an architect, he has worked on public space, park projects and international competitions. He holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of Melbourne and a professional degree in Architecture from the University of Chile.
Thesis
The morphogenesis of semi-formal settlement in Latin American cities
The thesis investigates semi-formal settlement as a distinct mode of urban production, characterized by different mixes of formal and informal urban design and architecture. From an urban design perspective, the research explores semi-formal settlements’ capacity to produce complex urban ensembles and the many ways bottom-up urbanization intersects with the planning apparatus of the state.
The research examines the evolution of three semi-formal settlements in Greater Valparaiso (Chile), Greater Rosario (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay) through a comparative case study approach. Using an assemblage thinking methodological framework, the research employs mixed methods, including multi-scalar urban mapping, archival research, field observations and interviews with key participants. By analysing the morphological change and the impact of planning frameworks in urban form, the study seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the morphogenic process of semi-formal settlement.
The significance of the research lies in a better understanding of the complex interactions between informal urbanization and formal governance. It also has practical implications for in-situ upgrading processes, offering a more nuanced understanding of how semi-formal settlements emerge and consolidate over time. Finally, through its comparative approach, the study advances urban research methods by integrating spatial and governance analysis across different Latin American cities.
Contact
- Email victor.alegria@student.unimelb.edu.au
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