Culturally Adaptive Community Based Strategies for Improving Habitability in Informal Settlements in Bali Indonesia

Rapid urbanisation in the Global South has resulted in the proliferation of informal settlements characterised by insecure tenure, poor infrastructure, and increasing climate vulnerability. This study investigates how culturally grounded, community-based strategies can enhance the habitability of informal settlements in Bali, Indonesia. Using a mixed-methods approach—comprising household surveys (n = 80), participatory mapping, in-depth interviews, and spatial observation—the research examines the influence of community participation, cultural adaptation, and infrastructure improvements on habitability outcomes. Regression analysis reveals that community participation (β = 0.45, p < 0.01) and cultural adaptation (β = 0.32, p < 0.05) significantly predict higher habitability scores. Qualitative results highlight three interrelated strategies: (1) participatory upgrading facilitated through banjar institutions; (2) incremental, climate-responsive construction using local materials; and (3) embedding ritual and collective practices such as gotong royong into environmental maintenance. Synthesising these findings, the paper proposes the Culturally Adaptive Community-Based Habitability Model (CACBHM). This framework integrates bottom-up community agency, top-down institutional support, and local cultural values to foster sustainable upgrading. The model demonstrates how culturally embedded participation enhances resilience, ownership, and policy alignment in informal settlement governance. The study contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 11 by offering a transferable paradigm for inclusive, resilient, and culturally grounded urban improvement across the Global South.