Destigmatise

Abstract

This report will try to find answers to the complex question of how neighbourhood reputations can be improved. A negative neighbourhood reputation can harm residents’ health, well-being and opportunities. It can also be a catalyst for decay. Changing a reputation is complex, and governmental approaches often reinforce a negative image. This research will result in an analytical framework and pattern language that urban planners, designers, and policymakers can use to give them tools to tackle stigma. The basis for the research lies in the literature, often from social studies. An empirical case-study research on the Bijlmer and Woensel-West will test and enrich the theoretical research. Neighbourhood reputations take place in a symbolic, social and physical space, and changes should be made in all three spaces to tackle a negative image. This report explores and analyses different aspects which influence the symbolic, social and physical spaces and their interrelations. This will result in an analytical framework that gives a clear overview of what aspects should change to change the reputation. The pattern language will give easily digestible concrete solutions on how the reputation can be changed. The pattern language consists of discursive, physical and policy interventions to change the analytical framework’s different components. The aspects that influence the symbolic space are history, discourse, experiences and how the government represents itself towards the neighbourhood. The aspects which influence the social space are the socio-demographic characteristics, social problems, behaviour and culture. The aspects which influence the physical space are the location, accessibility and services, maintenance and quality and the diversity of types and types of the urban fabric. The governmental program influences what part which influence the neighbourhood’s reputation is worked on, contributing to the effectiveness of changing the image. Whilst the governmental organisation contributes to the efficiency of tackling the image. The most important factor influencing the neighbourhood’s reputation is the discourse about the neighbourhood. The discourse is often based on social problems the neighbourhood is dealing with. The basis of these social problems is often the socio-demographic characteristics of the neighbourhood, especially when there is an accumulation of low-income households. The diversity and types of dwellings can influence the socio-demographic characteristics. The other influences named do influence the neighbourhood’s reputation. Nevertheless, they are not the main influences which seem to be the basis of a negative reputation.