Espaços do livre brincar : um estudo das formas de apropriação de praças situadas no bairro do Benedito Bentes (Maceió-AL)

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of public open spaces in Conjunto Benedito Bentes I and its adja cent areas, located in the neighborhood of the same name, in Maceió, Alagoas. It focuses on the relationship between subject and space, in search of pleasure, fun and social exchanges, which is treated here as a phenomenon of the Space of Free Play, which occurs through the action of the subject, playing (subjective) in the common space collective (physical). It is con sidered that playing is not restricted to childhood, and this action is possible (and desired) by all age groups, as it evokes the idea of playfulness, use of imagination, happiness, and unexpec ted activities. The premise is that spaces of freedom are of great relevance to the city, serving as connection points not only between subject-subject, but also subject-space. It is in these spaces that the freedom of play flourishes. By observing these spaces and the verbs that occur in them, it is possible to understand the different forms of appropriation that users make and identify their potential for public investments. The investigation process is based on William H. Whyte’s (1980) behavioral approach method, which includes mapping human interactions in these types of spaces. This methodology is widely used by scholars such as Gehl & Svar re (2018) and the organization Project for Public Spaces. Through this research, it aims to elucidate the multiplicity of ways in which these are used, thus ensuring the preservation of their importance for individual and collective freedoms. The investigations revealed a variety of games taking place in collective common spaces, many of which are not foreseen in terms of planning, but arise spontaneously from the creativity of users. This highlights a significant degree of intimacy between subjects towards space, highlighting the interconnection between individuals and the environment that surrounds them and, by extension, an impact of space on the very dynamics of their appropriations and, by extension, their propositions.