Urban space and its transformation in two Spanish Mediterranean cities: Alicante and Murcia

Abstract

During last two decades all Spanish Mediterranean cities have increased their surface and, in consequence, their urban public space is nowadays greater than it was before. Not only the amount of public space has increased, but also the role that public space has now is not anymore the same, especially in middle urban areas. Alicante and Murcia are good examples of the group of cities where the population growth and sprawl impact have had an important role in the transformation of the cities over the last two decades. The aim of this paper is to study, in those two cities, how public space has been transformed in the existing city and designed in new areas. Four important processes can be underlined considering the use and features of urban public space: firstly, city centre public spaces have maintained their relevant use but their design have been updated to currently activities; secondly, the implementation of new public transport - light metro or tramway- has renewed public space in the city centre and in the periphery; thirdly, the change of population habits that include activities that previously took place in public urban spaces and recently have been moved to private places related to shopping centres; and fourthly, the lack of quality public spaces in new suburbs based on low density houses and where all means of transport are private cars.