Post-development Practices of Public Space, Between Cohabitation and "Domination" of New Atmospheres

Abstract

Public space becomes a major issue during urban restructuring. To better understand this specificity, we chose the Rabat’s dock developed as part of the Bouregreg valley development project, as a case study. This space, with its background, has been subjected to a profound restructuring as part of the project. The study of the social uses and practices of citizens through their manifestations in this space makes it possible to identify the evolution of the relationship between the transformation of spatial structures and the production of landscapes representative of the image of the urban area. The transformations brought by this mega-project in our study area show new urbanities. In front of a tendency to micro-appropriation by the upper social classes and the tendency to a smoothed and polished urbanity, is found a more diverse and more complex urbanity which oscillates between a consensual social sharing of public (physical) space and / or maintaining old practices.