The aim of this work is to explore the course of development of self-built housing in the “villas” and “settlements” of the Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires (RMBA). These processes are examined at different scales, namely transformations in the barrio , transformations on the lot, and transformations within the household. The fi ndings presented here are derived from research undertaken by the LAHN that investigated processes of consolidation of self-built housing in informal settlements that have existed for 30 years or more.