Beni comuni urbani e pratiche spontanee di riutilizzo di spazi “terzi”: riflessioni a margine di alcuni casi empirici

The main aim of this work is to analyse the potentials of residuals in urban spaces, that are “undecided” and devoid of any function. At a time of arduous access to energy and economic resources, such spaces, so called “third”, assume a significant importance for the collective and represent an expression of a common good, of which it is reasonable to claim a right of use. From a geographical perspective, this “common goods” may represent some typical territorial features and are deeply interrelated with the history as well as the ecological and socio-economic amenities of local milieux. They embrace a spatial consciousness related to Third Parties through an informal approach, claiming a greater participation in the social production control of a lived space. The term Third refers to a varied emerging category, uncoordinated, that differs from the traditional authorities commonly responsible for management of urban spaces (public-private, state-market). This Third subjects face their disbelieve towards the institutions by exercising a form of reaction through those practices of which they are promoters. Thus, releasing from institutional subordinations they acquire an alternative role rather than a simple opposition between public and private or governance and subordinate citizenship. This research will therefore develop through an analysis of the reuse practices and urban redevelopment of abandoned spaces (San Fernando Market in Barcelona, “No Longer Empty” project in New York, etc.), which are sometimes released from institutionalized processes. Residuals of the cities offer a privileged opportunity to observe the latent changes which radically transformed symbolic and material relationsbetween the man and his territory. Thus, representing an opportunity to rethink the ethical implications of living.