Migrant Marseille

Book excerpt: Deeply divided, with ethnic French dominating the south and a large, vibrant North African community in the north, the city of Marseille typifies the tensions stemming from problematic governance, a constant influx of migrants, the widespread privatisation of services, and rapid, profit-driven, and destructive post-industrial urbanisation. Examining this complex city through a series of case studies of its built environment, this book tells of an urban reality where migration is especially prevalent. Essays, photographs, and drawings illustrate the impact of migration on space, architecture, and territory. But it also offers strategies for development that can support social and spatial integration.