The document outlines a presentation on urban sociology and public spaces, focusing particularly on the public library Sala Borsa in Torino. It discusses various aspects of public space in contemporary cities, such as accessibility, social dynamics, and the diverse populations that utilize these spaces. The methodology includes direct observation and interviews, aiming to explore the role of public spaces during times of crisis and change.

1. Luca Daconto
Dipartimento di Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale - Università di Milano Bicocca
Gabriele Manella
Dipartimento di Sociologia e Diritto dell’Economia - Università di Bologna

2. Outline
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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• City, public domain and public space;
• The public space in the contemporary city;
• Case study: the Public Library Sala Borsa;
• Sala Borsa as an innovative public space;
• Population and uses of Sala Borsa;
• The interviewees’ point of view;
• Sala Borsa in the debate on contemporary urban public space;

3. City, public domain and public space
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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 Greek Polis & European Civitas: a collective and shared public space;
 Public Sphere and Public Space: a necessary distinction;
 The Public Realm of city: heterogeneity and accessibility;
 A World of Strangers;
 Inter-visibility regimes: thresholds in public space;

4. contemporary city and public space
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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 Metropolitan Archipelago;
 The fall of the public man: intimacy and self-segregation;
 Urban populations: different paths in space and time;
 The competition to access public space;
 Global city and the commodification of space;
 Public space and marginal groups;
 The end of public space in the contemporary city?

5. METHODOLOGY
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o Direct observation:
January 2012 – January 2013
51 days & 78 observations  80 hours
o 15 semi-structured Interviews with key informants
o Post-it (I like Sala Borsa because ….)
o Various Sources (newspapers; webpages; documents; etc.)

6. CASE STUDY:
The public library SALA BORSA
Torino, 28-31 August
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Source: bibliotecasalaborsa.it

7. Torino, 28-31 August
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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8. Torino, 28-31 August
ESA 2013 - 01RS12 - Urban Sociology and Public Spaces
in Times of Crisis and Change
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9. Torino, 28-31 August
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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10. Torino, 28-31 August
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11. Torino, 28-31 August
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12. POPULATIONS AND USES
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 Students and the “invasion” of Sala Borsa
 The homeless: a shelter, an anchor, a resource, a precarious equilibrium
 Immigrants: between internet lounge, Esedra and the steps
 Other important populations: the elderly, the tourists and families with kids

13. SALA BORSA as a public space
the respondents’ point of view
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openness
gratuity
meeting place
heterogeneity
neutrality
symbol
beauty of the architectural setting
user-friendly
citizenship

14. SALA BORSA & CONTEMPORARY
URBAN PUBLIC SPACES
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• Public, Parochial & Private Realm
• First, Second (& Third) Place  mostly Passive Engagement with the
Environment
• Innovation (but not commodification)
• Open & Neutral  Right to the City (i.e., Homeless  citizens not just
assisted), inclusive inter-visibility regime
• Throwntogetherness
• Role of rhythms of use

15. References
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• Agnoli, A., 2009. Le piazze del sapere, Roma-Bari: Laterza.
• Arendt, H., 2000. Vita activa, Milano: Bompiani.
• Amin, A., 2008. Collective culture and urban public space. City, 12(1), pp.5–24.
• Brighenti, A., 2010. The Publicness of Public Space: On the Public Domain. Dipartimento di
Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale dell'Università di Trento, Quaderno 49, marzo 2010.
• Carr, S. et al., 1992. Public Space, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Habermas, J., 1991. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry Into a Category
of Bourgeois Society, Boston: MIT Press.
• Lofland, L.H., 1973. A world of strangers: Order and action in urban public space, New York: Basic
Books.
• Mitchell, D., 2003. The right to the city: social justice and the fight for public space, New York ;
London: Guilford Press.
• Oldenburg, R., 1989. The great good place: Cafés, coffee shops, community centers, beauty parlors,
general stores, bars, hangouts, and how they get you through the day, New York: Paragon House.
• Paugam, S. & Giorgetti, C., 2013. Des pauvres à la bibliothèque. Enquête au Centre Pompidou,
Paris: PUF.
• Paquot, T., 2010. L’espace public, Paris: La Découverte.
• Sennett, R., 2006. Il declino dell’uomo pubblico, Milano: Mondadori.

16. Torino, 28-31 August
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in Times of Crisis and Change
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Contact & Further Information:
l.daconto[at]campus.unimib[dot]it
gabriele.manella[at]unibo[dot]it
Many thanks for your kindly attention!