A look at micro-scale spatial inequalities: housing conditions in the vulnerable areas of Barcelona’s historic center

Abstract This research presents a study of housing conditions in a context of extreme socio-residential vulnerability in the historic center of Barcelona that sheds light on important spatial inequalities that persist at the smallest scale. It is based on a mixed method design that combines database analysis based on primary data collected through an extensive fieldwork and qualitative study cases, using the dwelling as the unit of analysis. As a result, it offers a close look at a residential reality that cannot usually be described in larger scale geographic studies that are often based on insufficiently disaggregated data, especially in relation to spatial aspects. The analysis of housing conditions with a broader multi-scale approach highlights significant inequalities within the studied city block and its multifamily buildings. Generally, socio-spatial and dynamic aspects tied to the relationship between inhabitants and space, as well as conservation and maintenance actions carried out over time, are found to be more relevant than aspects merely tied to morphology. Quantifying and localizing the most critical cases is essential to observe some patterns of spatialization that question the role of exclusively physical morphologic and typological characteristics. These results are useful for understanding the role of housing conditions in the heterogeneous and complex realities of vulnerable areas, and they can be useful in detecting where and why certain housing rehabilitation policies based on large-scale socio-urban studies have difficulty making an impact. This research contributes both to the methods of analysis for the existing housing stock in vulnerable areas, and the current critical debates on housing rehabilitation and urban regeneration policy.