Introduction

Introducing the case study of Whitechapel, this chapter is focusing on the spatial dynamics of social enclaves in an ethnic-traditional enclave and the role of individuals’ preferences and social relations—versus community leadership and government directives—in shaping minority groups’ spaces. The methodological objective is to propose complementary qualitative and quantitative procedures to improve understanding of residential processes: High-resolution examination of these residential activities will describe the rich potential of bottom-up research design and suggest its applicability to other social phenomena as well. The case study of Whitechapel shed light on the ways in which spatial and cultural logics intersect in the urban realm, opening up the possibility of an integrated understanding of the development of the city.