GENTRIFICATION RESISTANCE -SOCIAL STRONGHOLDS

In his book, Mathieu van Criekingen argues—drawing on various studies—that creating areas resistant to gentrification is actually simpler than often assumed. Rephrased in his terms, the goal is to design social strongholds.

He illustrates this with a portion of the Marolles neighborhood in Brussels. This area is strategically surrounded by social housing blocks and located close to the city center. The high concentration of social housing ensures a steady presence of average-income residents who rely on essential urban functions. Therefore, public space should be designed to connect people to these functions in an accessible and inclusive way.

Authorities have a responsibility to ensure that these functions and services are of high quality. Public services should also continuously work to enhance these spaces and develop strategies for better social cohesion, safety, and self-governance.

Encouraging upper-middle-class residents to live alongside those in social housing can promote social diversity. However, maintaining a careful balance between social housing and private housing is essential to preserve this dynamic.