Les périurbains et leurs espaces publics : enquête sur les franges nord de la métropole parisienne

Abstract

Peri urban areas are often viewed as spaces without city life due to a lack of public space. However, a lot of recent studies show that these areas are increasingly diverse and tend to become spaces of social practices. Based on a survey in the Northern fringes of the Parisian metropolis, this article analyses the inhabitant’s practices and representations in order to identify spaces which they use as public spaces, at some point or another. It presents the various types of practiced public spaces, both in terms of form and in terms of public interaction, and points out social differences in using public spaces. To summarize, the article shows that suburbanites in the Northern fringes of Paris use and visit diversified public spaces, according to practices and representations that combine, and at times oppose, geographical proximity versus distance, city versus countryside, quest of ‘nature’ versus ‘otherness’.

Keywords

• public space
• representation
• spatial practices
• Paris
• shopping
• periurban