O espaço público do Marais - Paris

PUBLIC SPACE AND URBAN CREATIVITY. THE CASE OF MARAIS, PARIS. The socio-territorial innovation of contemporary cities is forged, to a large extent, in its public spaces. It is mainly there that urban creative milieus are produced. This article discusses the urban creativity generated in urban public space, seen as symbolic resource of local identity as well as a place for meeting, debate, confrontation of ideas and practices. The classic metaphor of the door, which should always be open to allow communication and interaction, is of particular significance in the context of the Parisian Marais neighbourhood, where the public space actually seems to have the door opened, ie, to be the essence of creative milieus developed there. We propose a reading of Marais that emphasizes the sociocultural diversity and tolerance as key factors in the production of relational capital and local socioeconomic dynamics. We stress the intense neighbourly relationships, stimulated by the characteristics of public space, by the creative activities that take place in it and by the modes of governance configuring the neighbourhood. We further underline the important role of virtual social networks in empowerment, recognition and cohesion of the local community