Emotional Urban Spaces

Urban emotions are socially and culturally constructed phenomena that emerge through interactions, social relations and the spatial-temporal contexts in which they take place. The city, understood as a built environment, combines physical infrastructures with social dynamics while simultaneously embodying cultural, economic and political values. As a result, urban spaces become arenas of conflict, negotiation and cooperation, where emotions play a crucial role in social cohesion and the management of power relations.

Urban environments are not static settings but dynamic and constantly evolving entities. Their transformations shape, and are shaped by, the emotions, routines and practices of those who inhabit them. Consequently, emotions cannot be studied in isolation from the urban contexts in which they arise. Streets, homes, parks, workplaces, religious spaces, neighbourhoods and social networks are not merely locations for social action but emotionally experienced and meaningful places.

The session explores the reciprocal relationship between urban space and emotional life, examining how the material, social, cultural and political dimensions of cities influence emotional experiences and collective affective dynamics. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which urban design, social interaction, mobility, diversity and access to public space contribute to the formation of urban affective communities.

The session also considers the importance of openness, diversity and spontaneity in urban life, arguing that cities thrive when they allow heterogeneous encounters and multiple identities to coexist, fostering rich and dynamic emotional experiences.