Project description DEENESFRITPL An exploratory look at short-term rental markets The development of short-term rental (STR) markets through digital platforms is transforming our habits, for example the way we rent a car or an apartment for our holidays. The EU-funded DweLinks project aims to explore the notions of 'sharing' and 'collaboration' as well as the resources that are involved in STRs (transport infrastructure, public spaces, cultural and archaeological sites, natural and cultural landscapes). Focussing on Athens and Berlin, DweLinks will conduct a deep analysis of STR activities and their articulation within local sites and networks. The outcomes of the project are expected to inform research in the fields of urban studies and social and economic geography. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective DweLinks’ overarching goal is to explore the qualitative, geographical, and space-transformative characteristics of platform economy, and its development within complex, multi-leveled assemblages, in Athens, Greece and Berlin, Germany. More specifically, the project investigates the ways the emergence and establishment of digitally mediated, short-term renting (STR) markets, take place through i) the mobilisation and ii) the creation of ties and flows, among a variety of actors and networks. DweLinks’ major research hypothesis is that the development and establishment of STR activities is taking place through assemblages that employ, bring together, and mobilize human, material, and symbolic elements: urban and natural resources and assets (building stock, transport infrastructure, public spaces, sites of cultural and archeological interest, natural and cultural landscapes), labour, knowledge, services, historical meanings, and the notions of ‘sharing’ and ‘collaboration’. Through a qualitative methodology, heavily based upon assemblage thinking approaches, specifically Assemblage and Actor-Network Theories and the in-depth engagement with two study areas in each city, DweLinks will i) analyse and delineate the STR markets’ landscape in Athens and Berlin, through the exploration of their networks and actors, extent and limits, hybrid development, practices, role in socio-spatial transformations and differentiations, ii) enrich and inform ‘platform economy’ literature in the fields of urban studies, and social and economic geography, iii) inform policy agendas and regulatory frameworks and formulate policy directions, through the in-depth understanding of the development of the STR activity and its articulation in local sites and networks. Fields of science social sciencessocial geographyurban studiessocial sciencessocial geographycultural and economic geography Keywords Platform Economy short-term rentals housing Airbnb Booking assemblage thinking Berlin Athens Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT BERLIN Net EU contribution € 162 806,40 Address STRASSE DES 17 JUNI 135 10623 Berlin Germany See on map Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 162 806,40
