Filling the gap with creativity. Creative class and temporariness in vacant and abandoned land.

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the relationship between temporariness and creativity. More specifically, the main purpose of this paper is to highlight reciprocal relations established with temporay reuse and creative class in vacant land of contemporary city. Temporary reuse in vacant, derelicted and abandoned space is currently a topical subject in urban planning. Many italian and european cities have carried out new urban policies to activate temporary reuse, searching for a way to become competitive and establish an economically based identity. The paper is divided into three main parts. The first locates temporary reuse within the discourse of temporariness, through an european literature review, introducing its forms and roles in contemporary city. The second critically examines actors and spaces in which temporariness is realized. The final part takes the actually existing temporary spaces in contemporary city and highlights the author’s point of view, showing many of the critical and rethorical aspects of policies to promote them.