APRÈN. Portal de la producció docent del professorat de la UPC

A dialogue in active society aims to present the actions of neighbors of La Pau area in Barcelona as a flowing process between top-down planning and grassroots social action using a historiographical approach on the case study of La Pau neighbourhood in Barcelona. The aim is to understand how these social actions played a role in bridging the gap between the official plans and everyday needs and demands of inhabitants. Precisely, how did this social participation change their environment in its holistic understanding, with particular focus on social infrastructure within the built environment.

This thesis engages with the work of Ivan Illich in his book, Tools for Conviviality (1973). The aim is to translate his concept of conviviality into an operational term for urban planning. Illich criticises the industrially rooted institutions of power and mass production and promotes conviviality as an antipode ideology rooted in sociality and a fitting alternative for the future autonomous and sufficiency-driven civilisation. This study will seek to operationalise conviviality within the field of urban planning based on the relationship between public space, spatial self-initiative and the urban planning process. Three methodological approaches were used; literature review on Tools for Conviviality to synthesise the variables and themes of the study, a historical review using orthophotos, maps and photographs of La Pau to highlight the journey and impacts of the two watersheds in the industrial period and a case study review of the public space and spatial self-initiatives within La Pau to provide an analysis of the current impacts of the industrial model on urban planning. This research breaks down conviviality into independent variables; survival, justice and self-defined work and dependent variables; sufficiency, efficiency and productivity as indicators of citizen-centric urban planned public space. This research bridges the literature gap created by studies that conceptualise conviviality without analysing Illich's thesis on conviviality. Illich's thesis being over half a century old publication is a time scope research limitation. However, his diagnosis of the concept remains relevant till today and the study will justify the impact operationalising conviviality can have on livelihoods today. At the end of the study, operationalisation of conviviality in urban planning will be synthesised by demonstrating the adoption of the independent variables to address spaces left out of planning, ingredients for organic growth, vibrant lifestyles and 24/7 space.

This research explores the potential of community gardens for improving the daily social reproduction and the consequent impact on the social structure of a neighborhood. Specifically , it focuses on how addressing spatial factors when choosing locations for community gardens can contribute to addressing the socio-economic disparities (i.e. gender related dynamics, intergenerational cohesion, etc.), the research uses the case study of barcelona's neighbourhood La Pau, characterized by socio-economic inequality and the loss of solidarity among the younger generation. The study engages the factors related to the establishment of the garden within the urban fabric, and its effects on the social and economic well-being of the community . To comprehensively analyze these aspects, a mixed-methods approach is employed: Literature review, comparative study of relevant examples, spatial analysis, and a workshop involving active participation from neighbors. The research builds on theoretical framework from various authors, such as Colin Ward's concepts of self-organized allotments and the mutualist values that underpin their operations. Further, Silvia Federici's exploration of cooperative societies in everyday reproduction provides insights into understanding the role of spatial qualities in fostering social cohesion at the neighborhood level. Carolys steel's work supports the intersection of food production and urban life and complex set of values attached to community gardens. Through this research, the aim is to shed light on the transformative potential of community gardens in promoting social cohesion and improving the socio-economic balance of impoverished areas. By examining the interplay between the garden's establishment, socio-spatial factors, and their impact on the everyday relations of community making, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how community-led initiatives can shape and be shaped by spatial factors and what impact this has on social structures within a neightborhood context.