it’s a certain sensibility that ties these places together, a kind of progressive globalism, one that cherishes diversity and authenticity, as long as they fall within certain aesthetic parameters. The same can be said about the neighbourhoods that play host to this new global coffee culture. Keong Saik Road in Singapore, Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, Gulou in Beijing: all distinct in their history, culture and architecture, it is their very uniqueness that has earned them the love of a new generation of jet-set gentrifiers.
via readrice.co
You've heard of a globalized upper class which feels no connection to any particular place, not even their native country. There's also trans-national middle class drawn to little pockets of gentrification within huge global cities like Singapore, Hong Kong and Berlin. Their distinguishing characteristics: pre-World War II architecture and craft coffee.
One-Way Street 