Gentrificación y turismoEstudio de caso comparado mediante líneas de tiempo en dos distritos centrales de Madrid (centro) y Berlín (mitte)

Abstract

Cities all over the globe have been experiencing processes of gentrification for several decades. Nowadays, within the phenomenon of gentrification -subject to an extensive academic debate- we can identify various cycles. The different theories, regarding this process help gain insight on the phenomenon as a whole, but also shed light on different urban contexts. In recent years, new trends and dynamics have emerged, that seem to have triggered new forms of this process. This can be observed both in cities with a consolidated trajectory, but also in cities that only recently have gained importance. Within the factors that have come to influence these dynamics, are the ones related to the cities’ transformation into tourist destinations. In this line, the attraction a city poses as a tourist destination, is to be understood as exceedingly gentrifying, with the growing demand for land, causing an increase in land prices, and thus replacing residents and activities native to the environment. The politics surrounding the process of gentrification are diverse it their nature; from neoliberal attitudes, increasingly encouraging gentrification, to others, opting for a more restrictive agenda and promoting the coexisting of activities of traditional -and gentrifying character. Our paper examines the dynamics involved in this process, while considering the essence of time; we have created two timelines, which allow for a comparative assessment of the evolution and the magnitude of the process. Therefore, we have selected, two important European capitals for further analysis: the Centro district in Madrid and the Mitte district in Berlin.