Gentrification-Resistant Elements

Gentrification Can Be Resisted Through Gentrification-Resistant Elements

A week ago, we interviewed one of the leading analysts of gentrification in Brussels, Mathieu Van Criekingen

At the end of the interview, we asked him for ideas on how to resist gentrification.

He explained, quite simply, that different areas are at different stages of gentrification, and each area contains certain gentrification-resistant elements. What we must do, he said, is look closely, identify these resistant elements, and build the future of the area upon them as solid foundations.

This may sound a bit theoretical, but he recommended the book “La ville vue d’en bas” by the Collectif Rosa Bonheur to reinforce this way of thinking.

According to him, the book shows how residents of a neighbourhood know intuitively what can improve their area, while urban planners often focus on what the city lacks. Starting with the idea of “what is missing” is a problematic approach that leads planners to simply fill the city with something—anything—to compensate.

This really resonates with us, because this logic of “filling in” often goes through capital and ultimately harms the city.