Social construction of public space in popular neighborhoods of bogotá

As with housing, the public space of popular neighborhoods is produced and transformed by the inhabitants themselves. In the same way, a few number of "foreigners" visit these spaces, which are mainly used by local neighbors. The physical nature of these places may then be a response to the needs, expectations, possibilities and symbolic constructions of the dwellers of these areas. In this sense, social practices are transformed to adapt to the interactions with public space, while the latter, in turn, is modified to adapt to these new and changing social interactions. This paper explores the social construction of public space in popular neighborhoods of Bogotá by arguing that there is a close relationship between people and urban space, being this linkage a contribution to both the spatial transformation and the construction of the individual and collective identity of inhabitants. This paper is based on a study that collects data on popular neighborhoods of Bogotá, using a qualitative approach to identify, analyze and discuss the different daily, functional and symbolic expressions of popular neighborhoods in public spaces.