The city’s skin

: metaphor’s potential in understanding urban spaces : a case study on Lisbon’s surfaces

Abstract

The way we think and speak about cities is influenced by a wide range of metaphors, that serve as cognitive tools for comprehending the complexities of urban spaces by drawing upon familiar concepts. In the realm of urban discourse, there is a longstanding tradition of describing the city through organic metaphors. While the skin metaphor is predominantly associated with architecture, specifically referring to a building’s exterior or façade, it also finds resonance among scholars, writers, and artists when contemplating or discussing the notion of urban surfaces. This dissertation explores urban surfaces through the metaphor of skin, and, as such, as a living organ with several layers and functions. By examining the characteristics of skin, encompassing both its biological aspects as well as its social and cultural significance, and applying them to the domain of the city, this research seeks to explore the potential of the concept of the city’s skin. The study comprises an interdisciplinary review of relevant literature that serves to describe the various dimensions inherent in the concept. Additionally, a case study on Lisbon’s skin shall demonstrate the practical applicability of the concept to a specific city. It is argued that the skin metaphor enables an analysis of urban surfaces that goes beyond their tangible dimension, offering insights into how urban spaces are organized and subject to change, and how people imagine, inhabit, and interact with them.

Date of Award	20 Oct 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Margarida Abrantes (Supervisor)