Professor Sijekula Mbanga and Prof Marshall Sheldon, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology.
The lecture explored the origins, evolution, and challenges of human settlements, highlighting the need for a coherent understanding of settlement development, management, and the interconnected nature of urban challenges in a fluid global landscape.
Housing encompasses more than just physical structures; human settlements have historically shaped the essence of human existence. These spaces are vital for living, learning, working, and recreation. However, the failure to integrate diverse professional perspectives in the design and redevelopment of these spaces has led to persistent urban challenges. As settlement patterns evolve, these challenges have become increasingly complex and pronounced.
Scholars, policymakers, and professionals strive to develop coherent models that explain the dynamic nature of human settlements and identify the forces driving change across local, national, and regional landscapes.
Key factors influencing these shifts include colonialism, conflict, natural disasters, land use policies, and government actions. The cumulative impact of these elements often leads to population movements, which can adversely affect both the environment and residents' well-being.
While countries acknowledge the difficulties faced by cities overwhelmed by migrants seeking better opportunities, there is often a limited understanding of the structures and dynamics of human settlement systems.
The lectured aimed to initiate a comprehensive dialogue on the theory and practice of human settlement development, particularly for societies in transition. It begins by exploring the origins and evolution of human settlements, followed by an examination of influential theories and models.
The paper interrogates the various types and functions of human settlements and addresses contemporary challenges they face.
A significant dilemma encountered in this research is the desire to move beyond traditional scholarly approaches that propose solutions for only a few identified issues. Urban development challenges are interconnected, often serving as symptoms of deeper structural, economic, political, social, and technological causes.
In conclusion, the paper offers key insights and provocations for those dedicated to the global agenda of creating equitable, resilient, and habitable human settlements across nations, emphasising the need for a collaborative and holistic approach.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO