Seeking Attractiveness. Large-scale urban renewal projects in the metropolitan areas of Lille and Hamburg

In his latest book, Clément Barbier traces how two ‘problem neighbourhoods’ have progressively been placed at the center of metropolitan urban marketing strategies thereby shedding light on the origins and functionning of policies designed to make cities more attractive. Drawing on a cross national sociological analysis of the Union project in the north-east of the Lille metropolitan area and the International Architecture Exhibition (Internationale Bauausstellung – IBA) in Hamburg, his research takes us behind the scenes of local government and development companies tasked with transforming the image, population and economy of two declining areas that at first glance might seem to have nothing in common. It reveals how public authorities, having contributed to deindustrialise these areas, are now unable to attract the innovative companies, skilled workers and foreign investors they are vainly seeking. The figures of economic, architectural and environmental excellence are thus part of the same myth of public action, in the name of which elected officials, technicians and experts strive to create exemplary gentrification policies.

Speaker

Clément Barbier is an associate professor at the Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France in Valenciennes, affiliated with the Laboratoire Sociétés et Humanités and associated with the Centre d’Études et de Recherches Administratives Politiques et Sociales. His work deals with the localised governance of capitalism, focusing on large-scale urban renewal projects, real estate conversions of the industrial bourgeoisie and logistics employment regimes. He recently published En quête d’attractivité. Le renouvellement urbain par grand projet dans les métropoles de Lille et Hambourg (2025) and coordinated Gouverner les territoires du Nord. Capitalisme, race et pauvreté (2024) with Vianney Schlegel and Janoé Vulbeau.

Discussant

Céline Gipoulon, Deputy Director, École du Renouvellement Urbain