Nightscapes: from the Urban Design to the Urban Cultures

Abstract

Research on spatial practices related to urban design has largely focused on daytime processes, while nighttime urban design and practices have remained marginalised in geographical studies. This paper discusses how urban design can foster new opportunities for development during nighttime and contribute to the creation of new urban cultures. The central question is how urban design can stimulate the use of space at night and play a determining role in the social construction of nightscapes. Examples from Lisbon illustrate how urban design has stimulated new economic activities, revitalised traditional economies through new forms of consumption, and attracted both residents and tourists, particularly at night. Pedestrian flows animate the cityscape, creating vibrant and lively nightscapes distinct from daytime ones. Other nightlife developments, such as those in old factories or port facilities, have had limited effects on street life, being dependent on car access and parking. Heritage plays a role in site selection and the revitalisation of old urban areas. Findings from the research project Night: Opportunities and Innovation in the Territory (PTDC/GEO/64240/2006) demonstrate that the nighttime economy in Lisbon has created new opportunities for specific areas, transforming urban nights into practices and discourses, and shaping new urban cultures.