Cultural Keys to the Evolution of Spanish Urbanism

Abstract

A recent article in this journal examines the process of urbanization in Spain, and although the authors consider some of the cultural underpinnings of such evolution, their focus favors political and economic factors. The impact of cultural factors on the evolution of urban spatial patterns cannot be overlooked. In this article, I undertake a review of the rich Spanish urban historiography and propose the use of the concept of third space, drawn on cultural studies, as a tool for understanding how Spanish urbanism has evolved in contexts of crisis and changing frames of reference. It aims to (1) build a comprehensive narrative of the main cultural paradigms behind Spanish urbanism, (2) propose a basic conceptual umbrella for its interpretation, and (3) account for local particularities as much as general trends, using as an example the city of Seville.