Short answer
When designing for urban regeneration or post-crisis recovery, actively engage with and address the inherent tensions between established economic interests and emerging desires for more sustainable and community-aligned futures.
- Field
- Innovation & Markets
- Source
- European Journal of Tourism Research (2023)
- Method
- Ethnographic research
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, exposing and intensifying pre-existing tensions within urban neighborhoods regarding their future development, particularly the conflict between returning to established economic models and embracing more sustainable or community-focused approaches. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in European Journal of Tourism Research. Using Ethnographic research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for urban regeneration or post-crisis recovery, actively engage with and address the inherent tensions between established economic interests and emerging desires for more sustainable and community-aligned futures.
Post-Pandemic Urban Neighborhoods: Balancing 'Business-as-Usual' vs. Sustainable Futures
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, exposing and intensifying pre-existing tensions within urban neighborhoods regarding their future development, particularly the conflict between returning to established economic models and embracing more sustainable or community-focused approaches.
European Journal of Tourism Research · 2023
Key Findings
- 01The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing conflicts related to touristification and the nature of the neighborhood.
- 02A dichotomy emerged between desires for a return to 'business-as-usual' and aspirations for a more humane or sustainable tourism model.
- 03Local businesses adapted their strategies to survive the immediate crisis, with varying degrees of success and differing visions for the future.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for urban regeneration or post-crisis recovery, actively engage with and address the inherent tensions between established economic interests and emerging desires for more sustainable and community-aligned futures.
How to apply
When developing business strategies or urban planning initiatives for areas impacted by significant disruptions, map out the spectrum of stakeholder expectations, from maintaining the status quo to advocating for radical change, and design solutions that can navigate or bridge these divides.
Project actions
- 01Consider how external shocks might affect the user base or market for your design project.
- 02Investigate pre-existing issues within a target community or market that a new design might address or exacerbate.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a nuanced understanding of stakeholder perspectives during a critical period.
- +Connects micro-level experiences to broader urban and global trends.
Limitations
The specific context of a gayborhood might have unique social dynamics not present in other communities.
Reliability & validity
The ethnographic approach provides rich qualitative data, but findings may be subject to researcher interpretation. Triangulation with other data sources could enhance validity.
Think critically
To what extent is the observed tension between 'business-as-usual' and 'sustainable futures' a universal response to crisis, or is it specific to the socio-economic and cultural context of the studied neighborhood?
Design Principles
"Catalytic disruption reveals latent conflicts, necessitating a balanced approach to recovery that acknowledges both continuity and transformation."
Designers and strategists must recognize that crises can reveal underlying vulnerabilities and desires for change within communities and markets. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing interventions that are not only economically viable but also socially and environmentally responsible.
What This Means for Your Design
Big events like pandemics can make people rethink how things should be done, especially in busy city areas. Some people want things to go back to how they were, while others want to make things better and more sustainable.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify investigating the impact of a specific event on user needs or market viability for your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst, intensifying pre-existing debates within urban neighborhoods regarding their future development. This research highlights a critical tension between a desire to return to 'business-as-usual' economic models and aspirations for more sustainable, community-focused futures, a dynamic that designers must consider when developing interventions in post-crisis environments.
Source
European Journal of Tourism Research
Returning to the gaybourhood: Expectations of resilience and recovery of Chueca (Madrid) after the COVID-19 pandemic
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about post-pandemic urban neighborhoods: balancing 'business-as-usual' vs. sustainable futures?
- When designing for urban regeneration or post-crisis recovery, actively engage with and address the inherent tensions between established economic interests and emerging desires for more sustainable and community-aligned futures. Evidence: European Journal of Tourism Research (2023).
- Why does "Post-Pandemic Urban Neighborhoods: Balancing 'Business-as-Usual' vs. Sustainable Futures" matter for design?
- Designers and strategists must recognize that crises can reveal underlying vulnerabilities and desires for change within communities and markets. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing interventions that are not only economically viable but also socially and environmentally responsible.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for urban regeneration or post-crisis recovery, actively engage with and address the inherent tensions between established economic interests and emerging desires for more sustainable and community-aligned futures.
- What were the main findings?
- The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing conflicts related to touristification and the nature of the neighborhood.. A dichotomy emerged between desires for a return to 'business-as-usual' and aspirations for a more humane or sustainable tourism model.. Local businesses adapted their strategies to survive the immediate crisis, with varying degrees of success and differing visions for the future.
- What research method was used?
- Ethnographic research.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from European Journal of Tourism Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing business strategies or urban planning initiatives for areas impacted by significant disruptions, map out the spectrum of stakeholder expectations, from maintaining the status quo to advocating for radical change, and design solutions that can navigate or bridge these divides.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on a specific neighborhood and may not be generalizable to all urban contexts. The research period ends in early 2021, and long-term recovery trajectories may have evolved.