City Know-hows
Urban redevelopment in Porto is transforming neighbourhoods—but at what cost to health? Our study uses photography and personal stories from older residents to reveal how gentrification brings both opportunities and risks, impacting daily life, well-being, and community identity.
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Target audience
Urban planning officers; Public health professionals; Municipal and regional government; Policy makers.
The problem
Gentrification reshapes cities, but its health effects are poorly understood. In Porto, older residents experience both benefits (e.g., green spaces) and harms (e.g., noise, displacement). These changes affect mental health, mobility, and access to services—yet their voices are rarely included in planning.
What we did and why
We ran a photovoice study with residents from gentrifying, deprived, and affluent areas of Porto. Participants captured 458 photos and joined group discussions to reflect on gentrification’s health impacts. We analysed both visual and narrative data using an environmental and social framework.
Our study’s contribution
Our work offers: First-hand insights from older residents on urban change and health; A method combining photography and storytelling to capture lived experiences; Evidence of both positive (e.g., mobility, greenery) and negative (e.g., noise, insecurity) health impacts linked to gentrification.
Impacts for city policy and practice
We urge city leaders to:
Community voices must guide urban planning to promote healthier, fairer cities.
Further information
Full research article:
Gentrification, physical environment and perceived health: a combined visual and textual analysis from a photovoice study conducted in Porto, Portugal by Luísa Alvim Barateiro, José Pedro Silva, Ignacio de Loyola González-Salgado & Ana Isabel Ribeiro.
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