This document outlines a research project comparing the social construction of cultural heritage and leisure in the waterfront areas of Bilbao, Barcelona, and New York. The research has three objectives: 1) Analyzing emerging trends in the urbanization, experience, and management of public spaces in metropolitan waterfronts, 2) Mapping urban commons and innovative uses of public space through collaborative tools, and 3) Examining rights to leisure and how cities use culture and the arts to create and brand their images. The methodology includes discourse analysis, ethnographic mapping of spaces and their uses, and expert panels, interviews, and focus groups with practitioners, planners, artists, and citizens.

1. Imagineering Urban Spaces in Waterfronts
Research Showcase
Bilbao, OcioGune 2013

2. IMAGINEERING URBAN SPACES IN
WATERFRONTS.
TOWARDS A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF CULTURAL
HERITAGE AND VALUABLE LEISURE IN BILBAO,
BARCELONA & NEW YORK.

3. BILBAO
Universidad
de Deusto
Institute of
Leisure
Studies
BARCELONA
Universitat
Ramón Llull
Physical
Activity and
Sport Sciences
Research
Group
NEW YORK
Fordham
University
Urban
Studies
Department
PARTNERS

4. RESEARCH’S OBJECTIVES
Analyzing the emerging tendencies
related to the urbanization, experience
and management of public spaces in
metropolitan waterfronts
Leisure
Studies
Sciences of
the Physic
Activity and
Sport
Urban
Studies
THROUGH

12. WATERFRONTS & LEISURE
STUDIES
Social
Participation
Citizen’s
participation in
the construction
and
transmission of
public space
Mapping the
urban commons
through
collaborative
tools
Innovative
Uses
New uses of
the public
space in the
waterfronts,
resignifying
citizen’s
experience
Rights to
Leisure & City
Right to
leisure and
respect for
values such
us diversity,
inclusion and
accesibility
City image
creation
City branding:
Relationship
between urban
renewal and image
creation
Community
participation and
artistic
interventions into
public spaces

13. METHODOLOGY
PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3
Discourse
analysis
Etnographical and
topographical tools
Expert panels
Focus
groups and
interviews
Identify
audiovisua
l official
and critical
discourses
Map the
area,
codifying
spaces by
uses,
circulation
and
services
Identify
and
register
practices
in
regenerate
d urban
spaces
Interaction
with
practitioner
s to
extract
informatio
n about
their
activity
Encounter
s with
urban
planners
of the
three
cities
Focus
groups
with
politicians,
artists,
mediators
and citizen
platforms
…

14. Imagineering Urban Spaces in Waterfronts
Research Showcase
Bilbao, OcioGune 2013