The production of public open spaces and the deliberate exclusion of undesirables
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Data
2020
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Edições Universitárias Lusófonas
Resumo
While the remaining chapters in this book introduce and discuss a
series of experiences in co-creation and participatory processes in the production of
public spaces, this chapter intends to reflect on the appropriation and the production
of public spaces from another aspect – that of the undesirables, those who are not
wanted in the use of public spaces. By ‘undesirable’ is to be understood all those who,
for different reasons, are not supposed to use - at least for a large amount of time -
a public space. The reasons for considering someone undesirable are diverse and
often not explicit. Yet, this divide severely restricts social development and limits the
understanding of publicness and of an urban society, which is undoubtedly becoming
more and more diverse. For those considered “proper”, such daily actions as using
a public space are never questioned. Exclusion is a delicate issue, and thus probably
no one will publicly recommend excluding the undesirables from public life; however,
in fact, an increasing number of architectural elements are being put in place in order
to restrict the accessibility and use of public spaces by certain citizens. And the decision
to do so is an ambiguous one, as design aims at finding solutions that are effective
from a user's perspective. This chapter argues that the production of public space,
namely the idealized informality of open public space, is a continuation of the social
conflicts present in normative space dynamics by renewed exclusion means and
strategies.
Descrição
Série Cultura e Território
Palavras-chave
EDUCAÇÃO, EDUCATION, URBANISMO, URBANISM, ESPAÇO PÚBLICO, PUBLIC SPACE, COMPORTAMENTO ANTISSOCIAL, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, ACESSIBILIDADE URBANA, URBAN ACCESSIBILITY, EXCLUSÃO SOCIAL, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, INCLUSÃO SOCIAL, SOCIAL INCLUSION