This thesis intends to explore the links between the processes of demolition and construction in urban spaces, and the sense of community and ontological security between the residents of two neighbourhoods of Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in the north-east of England. The comparison between the architectural histories of these neighbourhoods, Heaton and Shieldfield, demonstrates profound inequalities, driven by decades of urban development and "regeneration", i.e. the exploitation and reshaping of public spaces in favour of the flow of international capital to the detriment of residents, as seen across the country and the world. Through surveys, interviews and focus groups, qualitative and quantitative analysis come together to examine the sense of community and belonging among residents of both neighbourhoods, as well as to understand their perceptions regarding the lack of social housing and different needs in the study areas. The research begins by comparing the architectural styles found in Heaton - primarily long streets of terraced brick houses from the early 1900s - and in Shieldfield. The latter shows a very different picture: from the 1930s, the neighbourhood has undergone waves of demolition and reconstruction of the residential buildings, resulting in a heavily fragmented area, without services, local businesses, or sufficient investment for residents. Here we find a mix of brutalism, older houses, and high-rise blocks, all with a higher percentage of social housing than in Heaton. The reputation of this neighbourhood has consequently influenced the attraction of businesses and capital, unlike Heaton, which instead receives high investment, leading the gentrified neighbourhood to be described as "a bubble of diversity and acceptance", despite the persistence of poverty among some residents. This thesis aims to identify specific sites at risk of demolition according to residents' perceptions, mainly in Shieldfield, where a continuation of the ongoing processes is expected, and to build an approach to protect and reclaim buildings important to the community. The hypothesis that there is a profound difference in senses of community and place between the two neighbourhoods is supported by the data, and offers a path to overcome these harmful processes, towards a city built genuinely for residents.
Questa tesi intende esplorare i legami fra i processi di demolizione e costruzione negli spazi urbani e il senso di comunitá nei residenti di due quartieri di Newcastle upon Tyne, cittá nel nord-est dell’Inghilterra. Il confronto tra le storie architettoniche di questi quartieri, Heaton e Shieldfield, dimostra diseguaglianze profonde, guidate da decenni di sviluppo urbano e da una presunta “rigenerazione”, cioè lo sfruttamento e rimodellamento degli spazi pubblici seguendo logiche e regole del mercato internazionale a scapito dei residenti, come già accaduto in molte città del Paese e del mondo. Attraverso sondaggi, interviste e focus group, l'analisi qualitativa e quantitativa ha lo scopo di esaminare il senso di comunità e di appartenenza tra i residenti di entrambi i quartieri, nonché di dedurre le loro percezioni riguardo alla mancanza di alloggi sociali e alle diverse esigenze emerse nelle aree di studio. La ricerca inizia dal confronto tra gli stili architettonici osservabili a Heaton – in larga parte caratterizzato da lunghe strade con case di mattoni e terrazzatedeiprimi anni ’900 – e a Shieldfield. Quest’ultimo dimostra un quadro molto diverso: costruito a partire dagli anni ‘30, il quartiere ha subito una continua demolizione e ricostruzione degli edifici, risultando oggi molto frammentato, senza servizi, attività commerciali locali, einvestimenti sufficienti per i residenti. Nel quartiere si osservano esempi di brutalismo architettonico, abitazioni storiche e condomini con una percentuale più alta di edilizia sociale rispetto a Heaton. La reputazione di questo quartiere ha conseguentemente condizionato l’arrivo di imprese e di capitali , contrariamente a Heaton, che registra alti investimenti, portando il quartiere, fortemente gentrificato, ad essere descritto come “a bubble of diversity and acceptance”, nonostante gli alti livelli di povertà sociale tra i residenti. Questa tesi intende individuare siti specifici a rischio di demolizione secondo percezioni dei residenti, principalmente a Shieldfield, dove si prevede una continuazione dei processi in atto , e di costruire un approccio per tutelare e reclamare edifici importanti per la comunità. L’ipotesi che esista una differenza profonda nei sensi di comunità e del luogo tra i due quartieri é supportata dai dati, e offre un percorso per superare questi processi dannosi, verso una città costruita su misura per i residenti.
Disparity of resident ontological security and sense of place between two neighbourhoods in Newcastle upon Tyne
BELL HOLMSTROM, ISAAC ANAND
2023/2024
Abstract
This thesis intends to explore the links between the processes of demolition and construction in urban spaces, and the sense of community and ontological security between the residents of two neighbourhoods of Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in the north-east of England. The comparison between the architectural histories of these neighbourhoods, Heaton and Shieldfield, demonstrates profound inequalities, driven by decades of urban development and "regeneration", i.e. the exploitation and reshaping of public spaces in favour of the flow of international capital to the detriment of residents, as seen across the country and the world. Through surveys, interviews and focus groups, qualitative and quantitative analysis come together to examine the sense of community and belonging among residents of both neighbourhoods, as well as to understand their perceptions regarding the lack of social housing and different needs in the study areas. The research begins by comparing the architectural styles found in Heaton - primarily long streets of terraced brick houses from the early 1900s - and in Shieldfield. The latter shows a very different picture: from the 1930s, the neighbourhood has undergone waves of demolition and reconstruction of the residential buildings, resulting in a heavily fragmented area, without services, local businesses, or sufficient investment for residents. Here we find a mix of brutalism, older houses, and high-rise blocks, all with a higher percentage of social housing than in Heaton. The reputation of this neighbourhood has consequently influenced the attraction of businesses and capital, unlike Heaton, which instead receives high investment, leading the gentrified neighbourhood to be described as "a bubble of diversity and acceptance", despite the persistence of poverty among some residents. This thesis aims to identify specific sites at risk of demolition according to residents' perceptions, mainly in Shieldfield, where a continuation of the ongoing processes is expected, and to build an approach to protect and reclaim buildings important to the community. The hypothesis that there is a profound difference in senses of community and place between the two neighbourhoods is supported by the data, and offers a path to overcome these harmful processes, towards a city built genuinely for residents.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/70461