Bourdieu, rational action and the time‐space strategy of gentrification

Abstract

This paper proposes gentrification as an example of class habitus adjusting to a new field via a time-space strategy that involves conscious rational coordination of class agents on a new aesthetic 'focal point'. This approach suggests: (1) a much greater role for conscious rational processes in both the intentional and intuitive processes of class reproduction; (2) an understanding via gentrification of the symbolic significance of time-space in class processes; (3) the significance of individual class agents in the process of gentrification; (4) a view of gentrification that gives greater prominence to working-class taste and habitus. key words habitus gentrification intentionality rational action time-space-strategies

New‐build gentrification: its histories, trajectories, and critical geographies

“…Whereas the collective action of classical gentrifi cation focused on areas where existing housing stock enabled a new middle-class habitus to be created (e.g. Bridge, 2001;Butler, 2003), newbuild developments are pushing gentrifi cation into the remaining working class neighbourhoods and ultra-marginal areas (Davidson, 2007). Some of these areas are large-scale council estates; the Aylesbury Estate south of Elephant and Castle in Southwark is one such example.…”

Class Transformation and Work-Life Balance in Urban Britain: The Case of Manchester

“…This has demonstrated both the place-specific characteristics of gentrification and its systemic features ). Third, in recent years we have seen increasing attention paid to gentrification and middle class formation -on the 'constitution and practices of middle class gentrifiers' (Slater 2006: 742) (Bridge 2001(Bridge , 2003(Bridge , 2007Butler 2003Butler , 2007Butler and Robson 2003;Robson and Butler 2003).…”

“…Gary Bridge (2001Bridge ( , 2003Bridge ( , 2007 has begun to situate gentrification in the lifecourse of gentrifiers. This, he argues, is adding a temporal dimension to the analysis, situating house buying decisions in a range of contexts, geographical, household, institutional and so on.…”

“…Housing renovation and investment with cultural capital (Bridge 2001(Bridge , 2007 dominates many gentrifying neighbourhoods and Chorlton is no different, as households 'play an active role in the creation of conditions that permit enhanced future rents' (Harvey 1989: 96).…”

“…Instructive of the buoyancy of Chorlton's housing market was both the growth in the number of estate agents with businesses in the area, as they moved in and talked up its upward trajectory (Harvey 1985;Bridge 1995Bridge , 2001, and the change in land uses, as care homes, garages, and small, independent hotels were converted or flattened and new apartments or houses were built in their place. As property values rose, so the area's land use narrowed, other nonresidential uses becoming increasingly less profitable in the face of rising house prices -a transformation in the built environment, as outlined by Warde (1991).…”