The Self-Production of Semi-Communal Spaces in Informal Hillside Settlements: From Empirical Constructive Adaptation to the Social Production of Space—Case Study: “The Portals of Mirador” Arequipa, Perú

Abstract

In Latin America, informal urbanization on hillsides has given rise to unique forms of occupation that combine constructive precariousness with social creativity. This study analyzes the Los Portales del Mirador settlement in Arequipa, Peru, from the theoretical framework of the social production of space of Lefebvre, examining how technical adaptations become social spaces. The research used methodological triangulation through urban cartography, a structured visual study of 548 lots, non-participatory observation, and 72 semi-structured interviews. The results identify specific settlement patterns and demonstrate how technical elements such as stairs, platforms, and retaining walls, initially designed for stabilization and accessibility, are progressively transformed into semi-communal spaces that facilitate encounters, strengthen neighborhood cohesion, and build collective identity. The study concludes that topography operates simultaneously as a limitation and a catalyst for social creativity, demonstrating how the self-production of space in informal contexts generates specific forms of sociability that challenge traditional dichotomies between public and private space.