All colours in grey. Immigrants in the public space of Barcelona's Raval

Abstract

Public areas are the preferred meeting space between the city's old and new neighbours, nationals and immigrants. The starting point of the study is the observation of the immigrants' activities in the public urban space in order to describe some of the features defining the newcomers' self. The new neighbour's image will be characterised by such terms as fragility, sociability, mobility, masculinity and visibility. These elements are considered to articulate the foundations of the new citizens' identity within the urban context and establish the patterns of appropriation of the public areas.