The Houses of Laventille......a sense of space....

       Within geography, especially urban geography, a sense a place and space is vital in describing any particular area. A specific area can  provide a sense of comfort and security. Every person usually, when building or buying their own home, wants a home where there is privacy and sense of a safety. They don't usually want a home where they can see directly into their neighbour's house or vice verse. The picture below       shows an area in Laventille where the houses are built with very little space near to one another. Many of the house surrounding the capital city are built this way.

The Houses of Laventille.

      I don’t believe that these houses were built so close to one another by choice but due to the lack of space within the urban area. Urban spaces are known for having a variety of uses one being low cost housing. Many of the houses in the picture above started off as low cost housing and were gradually developed by their owners. Urban models such as Burgess’ model, Ullman and Harris and Hoyt’s sector model each include an area designated specifically for low cost housing. Houses that are built closely together due to lack of space and need to be close to the city centre.

       Even though this aspect or urban planning may be seen as a “problem” because of the lack of space between houses, it can also be seen as a way to create a much more intimate community. The lack of space can be seen as encouraging a family among members of the area. A community in which everyone knows everyone and even your neighbour is as close to you as a brother. In this perspective, a closer community can lead to a reduction in urban problems such as crime. This goes to show that not all urban problems may be considered “fully” urban problems without weighing both sides….