Brussels' comings and goings: reinterpreting Crimson's City of comings and goings.

BRUSSELS’ COMINGS AND GOINGS Reinterpreting Crimson’s City of comings and goings.

Real Estate Architecture

FATIHA TADJADIT K.U. LEUVEN ARCH.

BRUSSELS’ COMINGS AND GOINGS Reinterpreting Crimson’s City of comings and goings.

Real Estate Architecture

CONTENT / INDEX

INTRODUCTION

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CRIMSON: A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS

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THE SIX THESES FOR A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS

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COULD BRUSSELS BE A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS?

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BRUSSELS’ LOCATIONS FOR COMERS AND GOERS

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BRUSSELS’ COMERS AND GOERS

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BRUSSELS’ PLAN WITH ALL THE ACTORS

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THE NINE THESES FOR BRUSSELS’ COMINGS AND GOINGS

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CONNECTING THE DOTS

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SOME REFLECTIONS

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INTRODUCTION

THE COMINGS AND GOINGS ISN’T PER SE A NEW PHENOMENON. MIGRATION HAS ALWAYS AND WILL KEEP EXISTING. THEY HELPED EXPANDING AND BUILDING THE CITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME, NOW. IF WE LOOK BACK, IMMIGRANTS TO AND FROM OUR COUNTRY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE URBAN ECONOMY, CULTURE, DAILY LIFE AND POLITICAL DEBATE. EVEN THOUGH, IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S A NEW ENCOUNTERED ACTUALITY IN TODAY’S MEDIA, MIGRATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. AND ISN’T MORE RELEVANT THEN PAST YEARS. EVEN IF WE COULD IMAGINE THE OPPOSITE WITH CERTAIN DEBATES SURROUNDING THIS SUBJECT. THE NEW FLUX OF COMERS ARE SUBJECT TO A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT POLICIES, GOVERNANCE, VIEWS, EXAMINATION AND POLITICAL OPINIONS. BUT LOOKING AT THE BROADER SUBJECT SHOWS HOW LITTLE THEY DIFFER WITH THE MIGRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRIVING IN OUR CITIES FOR GENERATIONS NOW.

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CRIMSON: A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS.

IN CRIMSON’S BOOK, WE ATTAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF MIGRATION AS A FAMILIAR REALITY. WE GET A GLIMPSE OF THE SIMILARITIES AND SHARED NEEDS OF MIGRANT GROUPS INSTEAD OF THEIR DISTINCT DIFFERENCES. THEIR PROBLEMS ARE DIVIDING US AND CAN’T BE SOLVED SIMPLY. THE CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS EDUCATE US ON FOCUSING RESEARCH ON EVERY UNIQUE SPATIAL CULTURAL PATTERN THAT A SPECIFIC LOCATION HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE GENERATIONS. THESE PATTERNS ARE OFTEN PHYSICAL,PART WAS CONSCIOUSLY OUTLINED WHILE OTHERS ARE RESULTS OF GENERATIONS OF SPONTANEOUS EVOLVEMENT.

“..For a city to find the solution for the unsurmountable seeming problem of migration, it has to look into itself.

If a city struggles with migration, it should cast its gaze inward, to see how it already is a migratory city, to see how it has already changed it’s streets, blocks, squares and institutions. The first thing a city should do, is to understand how it has already absorbed migration as a fact of life into its own physical, institution and cultural fabric.

Understanding the own history and the own lived-in reality fully and without judgement is the first step for a city to really think about transitions.”

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THE SIX THESES FOR A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS.

1. PROVIDE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHEAP SPACE FOR WORKING AND LIVING. To avoid social tensions and property speculation under pressure of rising demand, we need a buffer of affordable square meters that can absorb the ebb and flow of migration.

4. EMBED MIGRANTS IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMY, NOT ON IT’S FRINGES. An early and complete confrontation of migrants with the opportunities and demands of their host culture is crucial for economic emancipation and social integration.

Spatial segregation of migrants, voluntarily or otherwise, weakens the city.

2. MAKE ZONING LAWS, REGULATIONS AND 5. CREATE SPACES AND FACILITIES THAT INVITE SHARED USAGE BY DIFFEFLOORPLANS MORE EASILY ADAPTABLE. RENT GROUPS OF MIGRANTS AND NATIVE CITIZENS. Migrants need spaces in which they can grow their families and businesses, combining private life and work, which when needed can be subdivided and shared, or opened up for more extensive usage.

Ranging from specific places where members of one group can find each other, to facilities where the needs of different groups overlap, to public spaces where everyone is on equal footing: a city of migration needs a complete range of opportunities for its inhibitants to meet.

3. MAKE A ROBUST AND BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE THAT TRANSCENDS DEMOGRAPHIC WAVES AND CULTURAL TRENDS.

6. SHAPE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AS ICONS FOR THE COLLECTIVE SERVICES AND THE CULTURAL VALUES OF THE HOST CITY.

Migration is not a temporary condition that overwhelms the European city.

To facilitate migration is a fundamental and timeless task of the city, Its buildings and public spaces are crucial to this role in providing continuity and memory.

A fundamental condition for welcoming migrants is pride and confidence in one’s own public sector and the moral and social values that underlie it.

An architecture that embodies generosity, democracy and identity is a crucial aspect of the European City of Comings and Goings.

- Crimson

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COULD BRUSSELS BE A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS?

ABOUT MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN BRUSSELS. AND ALMOST HALF OF THEM HAVE MIGRATED AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME. THE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF MIGRANTS DIFFERENTIATE A LOT. ANOTHER STRANGE FACT IS WHY DO THEY ALL SETTLE IN BRUSSELS? VERY FEW LIVE IN OTHER CITIES IN BELGIUM. I DIVIDED MY RESEARCH, TO FIGURE OUT IF BRUSSELS COULD BE A CITY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS, BY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN BXL AND IT’S DIFFERENT ACTORS.

- LOCATIONS: The locations were found through the help of Crimson’s guidelines.

This step seemed quite complicated as some locations adress one particular group of people without really integrating them in the broader city.

While other cultural spaces that were designed to be open for everyone, become themselves exclusive to a limited group. But sometimes underlining the ethnic and economical aspect divides rather than overcomes them.

- ACTORS: Categorizing the different Migrants of the city to get a more understanding outlook on their outlook of the city limited to them in opposition with the older inhabitants. Their different tracts and meeting places are rather important in catering to their immediate needs and services.

Dividing them into their age groups, their desirability in the city, their location seemed to be the best way to understand it better.

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BRUSSELS’LOCATIONS FOR COMERS AND GOERS.

The Internation aims to support located in the attracts many e ‘maison de mait

THE LOCATIONS

Chinatown are e where mass migr located mostly image. Chinese chinese game sh and has even th Chinatowns most playing that du also catering t

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nal Montgomery School is a primary and middle school that t the expatriate community and local families. It is heart of Brussels, near the European institutions, that expat families. The school is located in a typical Belgian tre’ that has been renovated to accommodate 130 pupils.

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MONTGOMERY

THE PORT D’ULYSSE The Port d’Ulysse, is a whole new located place in Schaerbeek.

This center provides a warm, dry and secure place where homeless migrants can stay each night. The Brussels government decided to move the center recently, in the former buildings of Be-TV. Meanwhile it not being a good example as a building for the city of comings and goings, because of it being only for a temporary period. Knowing that the old building had plans to house a police station. It still shows how easily adaptable and robust architecture can be.

ethnic enclaves and exist all around the world in places ration of Chinese people took place. Brussels Chinatown on the Saint-catherine street, featuring it’s typical restaurants, chinese supermarkets, chinese pastry shops, hop, hair dressing saloon, art gallery, travel businesses heir own newspaper, the capital news. tly develop within existing neighborhoods and buildings, ual role of a space with mix cultural interaction while to the needs of local Chinese community.

CHINA TOWN

THE MATONGÉ QUARTER The Matongé quarter used to serve as a centre for all kind of colonial services from the Belgian Congo. With a huge influx, matongé quarter started to look like small African infrastructure. This place grew into a meeting place, for communities while staying very international.

Nowadays, Matongé has kept it’s name, with all it’s colorful stores.

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Cohabs is a project that propose several residential buildings with a variety of collective facilities. Thus a new form of housing, co-living, made for residents to share living spaces but also interests, values and intentions.

These housing units offer different kind of options depending on the different needs. Both temporary housing (students, divorcees, people in urgent temporary need, visiting artists)as permanent guests are welcome here. Actually, everyone is.

COHABS

THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST The Community Land trust Brussels jects in Brussels for people with grounds.

Building an inclusive city is the residents and the neighborhood.

Their system works as real estate housing crisis.

develops affordable housing modest resources, on shared

aim of this project togethe

developer, for the right pr

Seamen churches functioned as support centers for seamen who were far away from their home base. Their is mission is a meeting place for all Finnish and foreign people abroad. ‘Whether you are an inter-railer, somebody working abroad, an au pair, a student, a tourist, a marines, a professional motorist or an expatriate, you will be cordially welcome’. is their day by day quote. Besides the religious services they offer social and recreational meeting opportunities.

They supply various kind of services, a sauna bath, a library, a story, a coffee shop and in some establishments you can even find accommodation.

FINNISH SEAMAN’S CHURCH

BRIK: STUDENT IN BXL

Brik helps students finding housing in Brussels. They offer ro different areas in Brussels. Renting a living space with Brik bit cheaper than with private landlords. But the prize can va because of the type of room you choose. The size, neighbourho are all features that can change a price.

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g prod community

er with the

roblems, the

ooms in k is a tad ary strongly ood, period

15

La Maison Afri their training To this end, i accommodation, cultural activ

The KU Leuven over the world dent, increasi to organise as specific locati cal and focus

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icaine allows nationals from southern countries to follow g or development program in Belgium in decent conditions. it provides students and trainees with suitable , organizes a personalized welcome as well as sociovities, all within the framework of community life.

LA MAISON AFRICAINE ASBL

LOCAL SHOPPING PLACE

The local shopkeepers value remains largely spaces were different that: they are social

contribute to vital unusual economies, ones whose invisible to the big corporations. These retail kind of goods are exchanged are not only just places.

university is well known for their exchange program all d. They welcome every year more than nine thousandsH stuing the international student population. The school tries s much information tours about living and leisure in the ion they are studying. Most of these, are very stereotypion the student-side in every cityIY.

LUCA SCHOOL OF ARTS/ K.U.LEUVEN

THE GRAND MOSQUE The Grand Mosque was an oriental Pavilion of the Brussels National Exhibition. And turned years later to a place of whorship dedicated to Muslim immigrants. Now it is still used by both the new generation as the old one, showing how well the building can stand the ebb and flow from migration through the years that’s been specifically built for migration related issues.

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This is one of the few markets where you can find something for everyone.

Another rare specificity of this flea market, is that it is open for seven days a week throughout the year. All kind of differents stuff can be found here, and are sold by lots of different groups of people, day after day, year after year.

THE MAROLLES FLEA MARKET

THE NORTH-STATION

The North Station is a bit of a problematic space where no want to be, but for a certain needs to be. It’s an importa point to many different points in Belgium. Every day, it w than 60,000 commuters every day. And for the last decade, been an important arriving point for many refugees.

The station is also located near The Northern Quarter, tha an important business district.

The Brabant street is a bustling multicultural shopping street in the North District neighborhood of Brussels.

Almost all of the small retail units (such as clothing stores, home decoration stores, restaurants, supermarkets, bakery and even butchers) are run by immigrant entrepreneurs, originating from north africa, but also from other parts of the world.

Probably one of the few spaces where city dwellers see faces, hear language and find products from other places in the world. I think all of these elements stimulate people’s acceptance of changes in surrounding environment from foreigness. The rue de brabant is a social street that can also provide local economic opportunities. Knowing how this street arranges employment opportunities for ‘marginalized’ groups.

Similar locations impart in being a shield against discrimination.

This street seems to attract around 25,000 visitors across different neighboring countries.

THE BRABANT STREET

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o one really ant connection welcomes more this place has

at used to be

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BRUSSELS’ COMERS AND GOERS.

THE ACTORS

THE LABOR MIGRANT

THE STUDENT

Student mi increase f

AGE: 18 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

The main re labour dema the other i Brussels’ l

AGE: 20 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

THE EXPAT

According t ever before stay for on

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AGE: 31 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

igration has been on the rise in Brussels and is expected to further. It makes up the second largest category of migrants.

- 30 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: Daily presence

: Individual space | Small | Located on/ or near university

eason for labour migration is combating labour shortages and ands. These two differ, one refers to a request and need while is a situation which there is a lack of. labour migration focuses on labour demand.

- 64 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: Daily presence

:

Shared space | Small | Isolated

to a study there would be more expats living in Belgium that e. Although many stay for many years, there are also those who nly a few months. The average stay works out to 3.5 years.

- 55 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: Daily presence

: Individual space | Big | Located in the Suburbs

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THE TRANS MIGRANT

THE ACTORS

AGE: 0 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

THE CITY WORKER

Nearly half the region.

THE ASYLUM SEEKER 22

Transmigran asylum beca status or t Many of the their way t

AGE: 20 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

The number the last th throughout bility in c

AGE: 0 PRESENCE

LOCATION:

nts are described as economic migrants who refuse to demand ause they do not have the opportunity to receive a refugee they intend to demand asylum in another country. ese migrants today, use Belgium as an intermediate country on to the United Kingdom.

67 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: Daily presence

:

Camps | Small | Near easy transit point

f of all Brussels workers commute into the city from outside .

- 64 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: From morning to late afternoon

:

Outside of the city

of asylum seekers has been steadily rising in Belgium over hree decades. Asylum applications have peaked particularly the end of the 20th century, due in part to political instacountries.

67 years

DESIRABILITY:

IN BXL: Daily presence

:

Shared space | Small | Isolated

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BRUSSEL’S PLAN WITH ALL THE ACTORS. ‘...this combination of spatial and organisational divides between the ‘normal’ habitants, students and asylum seekers in an urban landscape is the direct result of the perverse control mechanisms of the european city, combined with the separating effects money, social traditions and cultural habits have.’

-Crimson. = Resulting to a segregated city!

Brussels demographic has always been highly influenced by migration.

The region is characterised by a clear spatial differentiation between the poorer districts, mixed neighbourhoods and the affluent areas of the city.

And so, has created invisible boundaries between communities living next to each other with very little interaction.

The segregation becomes embodied by the people themselves and is not spatially demarcated.

However following a mix of changes might shift the composition of the population in the different locations.

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LEGEND Asylum seekers Expats Transmigrants Students Labor migrants City workers

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THE NINE THESES FOR BRUSSELS’ COMINGS AND GOINGS.

UPDATING THE GUIDELINES OF CRIMSON’S TO A NEW SORT OF GUIDELINES FOR BRUSSELS AND POSSIBLY THE NORTHERN QUARTER.

1. PROVIDE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHEAP SPACE FOR WORKING AND LIVING. Depending on which category you’re situated in the city of coming and goings.

If you’re a student, international or coming from outside of the city to live and study.

Cheap spaces are available for shortterm rentals. For expats in Brussels, finding a cheap place will be easier, knowing that Brussels ranks in the cheaper side of European cities to live in. But for more marginalized groups,the only way to find a cheap space to live, beside squats, is by sharing.Sharing a flat with other people. The same goes for working spaces. Shared working spaces is the only solution to cheap spaces in Brussels.

2. MAKE A ROBUST ARCHITECTURE THAT TRANSCENDS DEMOGRAPHIC WAVES AND CULTURAL TRENDS. Because of migration not being a temporary condition.

Brussels needs buildings and public spaces that offer an expression of what matters to a society, that demonstrates the knowledge that migration is a part of it’s fundamental existence.

3. EMBED MIGRANTS IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMY. Mixing the migrants and the services and properties they need with the local popultaion could create a richer, more resilient economy, then when kept separated.

The right answer is spatially integrating migration into the urban economy.

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4. CREATE SPACES AND FACILITIES THAT INVITE SHARED USAGE BY DIFFERENT GROUPS OF MIGRANTS AND NATIVE CITIZENS. Public and shared space should be seen in a scope between the highly specific and the generic.

But also going from the culturally circumscribed to the culturally undefined.

5. JUST THE RIGHT MIX AND BALANCE BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE ACTORS OF THE COMINGS AND GOINGS. Brussels should find the exact balance between the living and the migrant, expat, student and most important the commuter who comes and goes to work every day.

6. LOCAL SHOPPING STREETS ARE THE PUBLIC FACE OF URBAN COMMUNITIES. These spaces are the first time most city dwellers see faces, hear language and find products from all over the world.

All of these may stimulate people’s acceptance of changes in the surrounding environment from foreigness.

Obviously, these streets are not just places for shopping.

They are social spaces that form local identities in an increasingly globalized framework.

7. SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT AND GROWING PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. Next to it is an important place of employment. It should provide local economic opportunities.

8. LOCAL, WALKING DESTINATIONS AND IMPORTANT CONNECTION POINTS. Convenient transportation, promote healthy and active mode of transportation.It also cherishes the space of transit and connectivity.

9. SHAPE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AS ICONS FOR THEE COLLECTIVE SERVICES AND THE CULTURAL VALUES OF BRUSSELS. The public buildings should be used as a tool to forward the interest in integration, emancipation and social cohesion. To overcome barriers to counter separation.

FINDING LOCATIONS THAT FIT A FEW OF OUR NINE GUIDELINES WAS EASY TO FIND, SEEING AS THEIR SCATERRED ALL AROUND THE CITY.THE HARDER PART WAS TRYING TO FIND A LOCATION THAT FITTED THEM ALL. IN CRIMSON’S BOOK THEY MENTION HOW RARE/ ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IT IS TO FIND PROJECTS THAT ARE ROBUST, STRONG IN THEIR ARCHITECTURAL PRESENCE WHILE SUGGESTING MIGRATION IS HERE TO STAY AND BRING DIFFERENT TYPES OF MIGRANTS AND ORIGINAL INHABITANTS TOGETHER.

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CONNECTING THE DOTS. WHILE THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, ACTORS AND THESES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE ON THEIR OWN. LOOKING FOR THE CONNECTIONS MADE IT ABLE TO LOOK BETTER AT THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT HIDES BEHIND IT ALL. 1. PROVIDE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHEAP SPACE FOR WORKING AND LIVING.

2. MAKE A ROBUST ARCHITECTURE THAT TRANSCENDS DEMOGRAPHIC WAVES AND CULTURAL TRENDS.

4. CREATE SPA FACILITIES TH SHARED USAGE GROUPS OF MIG NATIVE CITIZE

3. EMBED MIGRANTS IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMY.

THE PORT D’ULYSSE

LUCA SCHOO

LA MAISON AFRICAINE ASBL

CHINA TOWN

THE MAROLLES FLEA MARKET THE NORTH-STATION

THE STUDENT

THE ASYLUM SEEKER

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THE CITY WORKER

LOCAL SHOPPING PLACE

ACES AND HAT INVITE

BY DIFFERENT GRANTS AND ENS.

6. LOCAL SHOPPING STREETS ARE THE PUBLIC FACE OF URBAN COMMUNITIES.

7. SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT AND GROWING PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

8. LOCAL, WALKING DESTINATIONS AND IMPORTANT CONNECTION POINTS.

5. JUST THE RIGHT MIX AND BALANCE BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE ACTORS OF THE COMINGS AND GOINGS.

9. SHAPE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AS ICONS FOR THEE COLLECTIVE SERVICES AND THE CULTURAL VALUES OF BRUSSELS.

THE MATONGÉ QUARTER

OL OF ARTS

FINNISH SEAMAN’S CHURCH

THE BRABANT STREET

THE GRAND MOSQUE

BRIK: STUDENT IN BXL

THE EXPAT

THE LABOR MIGRANT

THE TRANS MIGRANT

COHABS

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SOME REFLECTIONS. WE KNOW MIGRANT’S ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE REGENERATION OF AN AREA. BUT UNLESS THEY COLLECTIVELLY ORGANISE, THEY WILL BE ESTABLISHED ON THE FENCES. THUS, IT IS IMPORTANT WE TRY TO CONNECT EVEN IF THE INTENT SEEMS UNCERTAIN IN THE BEGINNING. ALL OF THIS STARTS WITH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ACTORS/ MIGRANTS AND OLDER INHABITANTS OF THE CITY. THE SOLUTION IS A CITY THAT’S GLOBAL, SHARED AND FOR EVERYONE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO HELP THE ECONOMICAL GROWTH OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CLASSES AND ACTORS. AND SHOULD VIEW CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND MIXING HIGHLY. CONNECT. COMMUNICATE. SHARE. EXCHANGE.

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