Centres and fringes: cultural practices and production in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Abstract

This article studies the existing relationship between cultural activities and the spatial organisation of urban areas, using the Lisbon Metropolitan Area as a concrete case study. A special emphasis is laid on the distinction between more «central» practices, which are more scattered and wide-spread, and «fringe» practices, usually located in the city centre. The development of certain highly territorial activities (Bairro Alto, Chiado) is analysed in detail. The concentration of certain «fringe» productions and practices in these areas of the city is explained by making use of notions such as «innovative environment» and «threshold spaces».