Effects of the Eco-Social Crisis, Housing, Touristification and Gentrification in Two Southern Mediterranean Cities: Porto and Barcelona

This communication is framed in research-funded project ECOSOCITIES (2022-2025), which studies eco-social resilient discourses and practices in southern European cities (PID2021-123912NA-I00). Our research highlights Porto's trajectory as it parallels Barcelona in experiencing a housing crisis (characterized by gentrification), a tourism crisis (evidenced by touristification), and socio-economic challenges—albeit with a two-decade lag (Meerow 2016, Putnam 2000). These cities have many similarities, both of Southern European heritage, having become a tourism magnet and economic epicentres for entrepreneurship. They have, however, faced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic deepening preexisting eco-social repercussions. How have these challenges shaped the response to the eco-social crisis in both cities? Which tensions have arisen in the housing, economy and eco-social spheres? What are the bottom-up responses to this multidimensional crisis?

We seek to elucidate these tensions and challenges in both Barcelona and Porto, and through a comparative study, explore a route that may enable them to avoid some effects of the eco-social crisis by focusing on the bottom-up and collective actions that arise when social community organises.

Employing a mixed methods approach, we analyse quantitative secondary data such as OECD, EUROSTAT, National Institute of Statistic of Portugal and Spain, municipal reports with statistic data to gain a deeper understanding of both local contexts. Besides we undertake semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. We specifically analyse the role of associative networks, bottom-up solutions and the result current urban space distribution (green spaces, spaces for the elderly or young children.), as well as housing distribution play in mitigating the impact of the eco-social crisis that has been aggravated by the pandemic.

We conclude by advocating to foster a grassroots community engagement and social resilience as vital strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of touristification and gentrification dynamics on urban space social configuration and changes in Porto.