The appropriation of open public space in the contemporary metropolis: Tiradentes Square in Curitiba City

Abstract The study about the importance of open public spaces for the development of social life in cities is a recurrent concern in the various fields of urban spaces study. Especially in central areas of dense cities, these spaces mitigate the climate, articulate traffic, leisure activities, among others. On the other hand, the central areas of metropolitan centers undergo sociospatial processes that make them be considered “degraded” and become the target of several “revitalization” actions intended to alleviate said undesirable effects. In this sense, the central squares also experience this process and it is very common to go through various transformations in order to change this situation. These actions are frequent in Curitiba, which the central area has been the subject of several “renewal” actions. Given this dynamic, this paper aims to understand the importance of Tiradentes Square, located in downtown Curitiba, for the development of public life through the study of its use and appropriation. This article seeks to identify the characteristics and particularities linked to the production and consumption processes of this public space, based on the understanding of its historical evolution, physical-spatial observation and apprehension of its users, inspirate by a brief literature review.

摘要 城市开放公共空间对城市社会生活发展的重要性研究，是城市空间研究各领域长期受到关注的核心议题。尤其在高密度城市的中心城区，此类空间兼具气候调节、交通疏导与休闲活动承载等多重功能。另一方面，大都市中心城区正经历社会空间变迁，被视为“衰退”区域，因此成为各类“复兴”行动的目标，以缓解上述不良影响。就此而言，城市中心广场亦身处这一变迁进程中，为改善现状而历经多轮改造已是常态。这类更新行动在巴西库里提巴市尤为常见，其中心城区已先后实施过多次“更新”项目。鉴于这一发展态势，本文以位于库里提巴市中心的蒂拉登特斯广场（Tiradentes Square）为研究对象，旨在通过分析其使用与空间占用情况，探究该广场对城市公共生活发展的重要意义。本文基于对该广场历史沿革的梳理、实体空间的实地观测、使用者感知的分析，并辅以简要的文献综述，旨在厘清该公共空间的生产与消费过程所关联的特征与特殊性。