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Gecekondu (Turkish for ''put up overnight'', plural gecekondular) is a
In
In common usage, it refers to the low cost apartment buildings or houses that were constructed in a very short time by people migrating from rural areas to the outskirts of the large cities. Robert Neuwirth writes in his book '' Shadow Cities'' that these squatters are exploiting a legal loophole which states that if one starts building after dusk and moves into a completed house before dawn the next day without having been noticed by the authorities, then the next day the authorities are not permitted to tear the building down but instead must begin a legal proceeding in court (and thus it is more likely one can stay). Such buildings may be constructed without going through the necessary procedures required for construction, such as acquiring building permits, and can be very densely populated. Neuwirth stated in 2004 that "half the residents of Istanbul - perhaps six million people - dwell in gecekondu homes".Neuwirth, R (2004). ''Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World'', Routledge , Page 8. Despite connotations of urban poverty and overcrowding, almost all gecekondu neighbourhoods are supplied with running water and electricity.
The gecekondu phenomenon is directly linked with the problems of unemployment and
The European Journal of Turkish Studies, Thematic Issue N°1 Gecekondu
{{Squatting Shanty towns in Western Asia Housing in Turkey Turkish words and phrases Squatting in Turkey
Gecekondu (Turkish for ''put up overnight'', plural gecekondular) is a Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
word meaning a house put up quickly without proper permissions, a squatter
Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there ...
's house, and by extension, a shanty or shack
A shack (or, in some areas, shanty) is a type of small shelter or dwelling, often primitive or rudimentary in design and construction.
Unlike huts, shacks are constructed by hand using available materials; however, whereas huts are usually ru ...
. Gecekondu bölgesi is a neighborhood made of those gecekondular. Gecekondu neighborhoods offer an affordable alternative for shelter for many low-income households who can not afford to purchase or rent formal housing.
Etymology
In Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
, ''gece'' means "night" and ''kondu'' means "placed" (from the verb ''konmak'', "to settle" or "to be placed"); thus the term ''gecekondu'' comes to mean "placed (built) overnight". And ''bölge'' means a "zone", "district" or even "region", so a ''gecekondu bölgesi'' is a "suddenly built-up shanty-neighborhood."
Usage
In common usage, it refers to the low cost apartment buildings or houses that were constructed in a very short time by people migrating from rural areas to the outskirts of the large cities. Robert Neuwirth writes in his book '' Shadow Cities'' that these squatters are exploiting a legal loophole which states that if one starts building after dusk and moves into a completed house before dawn the next day without having been noticed by the authorities, then the next day the authorities are not permitted to tear the building down but instead must begin a legal proceeding in court (and thus it is more likely one can stay). Such buildings may be constructed without going through the necessary procedures required for construction, such as acquiring building permits, and can be very densely populated. Neuwirth stated in 2004 that "half the residents of Istanbul - perhaps six million people - dwell in gecekondu homes".Neuwirth, R (2004). ''Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World'', Routledge , Page 8. Despite connotations of urban poverty and overcrowding, almost all gecekondu neighbourhoods are supplied with running water and electricity.
The gecekondu phenomenon is directly linked with the problems of unemployment and poverty
Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. When evaluating poverty in ...
in the rural areas of Turkey, especially in the east of the country. In many instances entire villages have migrated to the outskirts of the large industrialized cities in order to seek a better standard of living
Standard of living is the level of income, comforts and services available, generally applied to a society or location, rather than to an individual. Standard of living is relevant because it is considered to contribute to an individual's quality ...
.
At present, some gecekondu areas are being gradually demolished and replaced by modern mass-housing compounds developed by the government's Mass Housing Development Administration (TOKİ). Gecekondular are present both in small Turkish towns and in large cities such as Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul.
See also
*Slum
A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are primarily inh ...
* Shanty town
* Favela
* Tower and Stockade
* Township (South Africa)
* Tŷ unnos
References
External links
The European Journal of Turkish Studies, Thematic Issue N°1 Gecekondu
{{Squatting Shanty towns in Western Asia Housing in Turkey Turkish words and phrases Squatting in Turkey