The role of public space in the development of nightlife (Montpellier-Lisbonne)

Abstract

The development of the night-time economy has been linked to the chan- ging regulation of commercial activities, as well as broader social and cultural trans- formations. However, the role played by urban planning and design remains scarcely addressed. Based on the cases of Montpellier and Lisbon, this article shows how conflicts associated with the development of nocturnal leisure activities arise from a lack of consideration for urban practices and their temporality in the production and management of public spaces. The article further shows how the night can be a privile- ged space-time to analyze some of the ambiguities and contradictions that characterize the policies of revitalization of the historic centers of European cities.