The Egyptian episode of self-build housing

The Egyptian experience has rarely been incorporated into housing literature within the context of self-build technique. In the last five decades, Egypt has passed through various self-build housing policies. This paper demonstrates shifting the onus of self-build techniques, and shows how these policies and changes affected the urban poor. The paper develops an understanding of the recent transformations of self-help techniques in Egypt through five phases and transpired into varied forms of urban policies. It highlights the shifting liaison of the state and civil society within the implementation of self-build housing. An analysis of self-build housing options designed to accommodate the urban poor concludes the study.

► Options of self-build housing are composing the progressive housing process. ► Laissez-faire attitudes results on spatially degradation of the urban informality. ► Forces of market values are controlling the performance of self-help housing. ► Strengthening of local participatory democracy can directly influence public policy. ► Recycling informal real estate assets are essential to enhance the local economy.