The panel gathered together cutting-edge presentations focused on the question of how new and existing wealth elites make social and physical places to accommodate themselves in urban settings. The papers discussed how elites spatially and socially integrate, or maintain social and physical distance, from the wider urban fabric and other social groups. This included the following:
- Secessionary heavens in an urban hell: Borders, boundaries and the retreat of old and new money from the risks of city life (Emma Morales, ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara)
- The social profile and spatial imprint of elite groups among higher occupational categories in Athens (Thomas Maloutas (National Centre for Social Research & Harokopio University) and Nicholas Souliotis (National Centre for Social Research)
- Concierges' and Porters' Care Work in London's Elite Neighbourhoods (Matthew REYNOLDS, London School of Economics)
- Luxury Condos and the Role of Amenity Spaces in Processes of Disconnection (Nataliya MURZENKO, Université de Tours, and Ute LEHRER, York University)
The panel also enabled discussion, using recent empirical evidence, concerning the extent to which apparently elite spaces are becoming physically bounded or withdrawn, or indeed findings methods and modes of interaction with the wider city. On these issues we heard the following contributions:
- Looking at Milan as an alpha city: framing and updating a research agenda (Paola Briata and Stefano Di Vita, Dastu, Politecnico di Milano)
- Alpha territorialisation: Venice edition (Carla Tedesco, Matteo Basso (University Iuav of Venice, Department of Architecture and Arts) and Valeria Morea (Erasmus University of Rotterdam)
- How Urban Super Rich People Make Super Elitist Alps (Giovanni SEMI, Università di Torino, Italy, Magda; BOLZONI, Politecnico di Torino, Italy and Marta TONETTA, University of Milan)
- Lebanese Power Geographies: How the Political Elite Reinvents Itself through Land and Property (Petra SAMAHA, Sciences Po)
The discussions in the panels will now move forward to the production of an edited book. Anyone interested in joining the elite spaces group, please email rowland.atkinson@sheffield.ac.uk