Book review forum: Housing in the Margins.

"Housing in the Margins: Negotiating Urban Formalities in Berlin's Allotment Gardens" by Hanna Hilbrandt challenges traditional understandings of informality in urban studies. The book argues that informality should not be seen as a deficiency, but rather as a strategy employed by various actors to manage urban problems within the boundaries of formal laws and institutions. Hilbrandt focuses on allotment gardens in Berlin as a non-conflictual example of informality, shedding light on the complexities of informal urbanism and the negotiations between the state and practitioners. The text emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities of informality and its impact on urban spaces. [Extracted from the article]