O lazer infanto-juvenil nos espaços públicos de Barcelona

Abstract

We know that it is very important to have spaces which may promote play culture in large cities nowadays. Play culture has been decreasing as a result of industrial development, urbanization and the media and their impact on urban life. These changes were responsible for reducing the transmission of play culture among children, adolescents and adults. The purpose of the study in Barcelona was to investigate how people use, appropriate and choose public spaces for leisure in the city, particularly public squares in the Vall d’Hebron district. The research tried to understand how these spaces are organized, and most importantly, how children and preteens perceive, use and appropriate public squares for leisure and play. The article presents an analysis of three public spaces classified as public squares and their distinct characteristics. Two of these public squares were planned for leisure and for play (Square 1: Jardines de Can Brasó and Square 2: Josep Pallach) and the third, although not designed for this purpose, has considerable flow of users and spontaneous activities by children and pre-teens (Square 3: Joan Cornudella). The qualitative study used non-participant observations and structured questionnaires applied to 8-12 years-old respondents about their preference of public squares and spaces to play. The results show that children and preteens value: larger play spaces; mates to play; play situations that enhance their motor skills; the duration of the playful act; spaces or areas to play safely and autonomously; playing with their family members (father, mother, grandparents, etc..) and other adults; spontaneous playful actions; inclusion, diversity and plu- rality of recreational events.