Exploring the social impact of tactical urbanism through Barcelona’s Poblenou superblock : towards adaptation to the periphery

In the last decade, tactical urbanism has emerged as an alternative method of addressing contemporary urban challenges gaining global focus for its fast and low-cost approach. However, despite its growing popularity, the literature on the subject is still fragmented among multiple disciplines, with...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Stagias, Anargyros
Tipo de recurso: tesis de maestría
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/443411
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/443411
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:City planning -- Social aspects
Public spaces
Urban renewal
Group identity
Tactical urbanism
Social cohesion
Superblocks
Periphery
Urbanisme -- Aspectes socials
Espais públics
Rehabilitació urbana
Identitat col·lectiva
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Urbanisme::Aspectes socials
Descripción
Sumario:In the last decade, tactical urbanism has emerged as an alternative method of addressing contemporary urban challenges gaining global focus for its fast and low-cost approach. However, despite its growing popularity, the literature on the subject is still fragmented among multiple disciplines, with many focusing on its effects on mobility or health. This study examines the impact of tactical urbanism on dimensions of social cohesion that pertain to the neighborhood and community scale. Since social cohesion still remains a notion that lacks a precise definition due to insufficient consensus on what it specifically involves, the study proposes a new framework for its evaluation. The new model introduces a new typology of social cohesion in the public space with the dimensions of inclusivity, frequency of interactions, social trust, sense of belonging and civic participation as its core elements. To answer the research question, the renowned Superblock of Poblenou is chosen as a case study, utilizing bibliographical analysis. A qualitative, multi-source synthesis of research is conducted by triangulating evidence. The findings indicate that the intervention in Poblenou has increased everyday interactions and trust and strengthened community identification. However, an imbalance in the profile of users was revealed, with a percentage of the youth and the elderly feeling secluded from the space. A cartographic analysis of sociodemographic data revealed that the areas in the periphery of Barcelona, face significant challenges that could be benefited from tactical urbanism interventions. La Pau is proposed as a transitional case due to its vulnerable profile and urban morphology in order to start replicating the model of Poblenou in the periphery. Finally, insights from the Superilla help visualize expected outcomes and potential challenges in implementing tactical urbanism in the east of Sant Marti.