The death and life of Chinatowns

Towards an integrated and authentic transformation of ‘Chinatown’ in Amsterdam

Master thesis (2020)

Authors

Y. Wu Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

G. Bracken Spatial Planning and Strategy - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
R.J. Kleinhans Urban Studies - Architecture and the Built Environment (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2020 Y. Wu
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Published Date

08-07-2020

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The advent of steamship in the 19th century is accompanying with the Chinese immigration. Chinese seamen gathered around the dockland at a certain scale and formed Chinese quarters. Therefore, Chinatowns appeared in many harbour cities in European countries. With the urban development and migrant shifts within the recent one hundred years, Chinatowns transformed many times regarding their recognitions, urban roles and functions. However, Chinatowns seem to decline universally. The stereotypic manifestation and commodification have gradually erased the social meaning as an ‘ethnic core’, and the ‘voluntaristic way’ to accommodate difference (Peach, 1996). Based on literatures, this thesis defined the spatial dimensions and social constriction of Chinatowns, as well as the concept of integration and authenticity, analysed contextualised problems of Chinatown in Amsterdam, and thereby to reconfigure Chinatown in Amsterdam through the socio-spatial strategies.