Ruolo dello spazio pubblico e presunti rischi di una sua scomparsa, di Stefano Moroni e Francesco Chiodelli (pp. 30-38)

This paper puts into question the category of public space, arguing that it is necessary more from a physical and functional perspective, than for its symbolic and relational implications (the latter being more emphasized by the planning literature on this theme). This position is based on the confutation of two major interpretations of public space in the planning debate: one acknowledging its centrality in the making of the public sphere; another exposing its progressive privatization (mostly driven by contractual communities and shopping malls). The authors argue that the production of public spheres doesn’t necessarily occur within public spaces, i.e. spaces of public property, whereas needs and demands of “truly” public spaces coming from minorities or marginal groups (homeless people, for example) calls property rights issues into play. On the other hand, criticized forms of closure such as the gated communities can be regarded as contractual and shared forms of production of collective spaces within a private property regime.