Intensity without Density

Abstract

Urban density has often been considered one of the main conditions for the emergence of urban intensity, here understood as the potential for endless random and unpredictable interactions between heterogeneous individuals and activities. However, within the expanded territory of the contemporary metropolis, the rise of mobility and communication technology has brought about new possibilities for informal interaction and exchange beyond the traditional relationship of proximity. By combining a multi-scale approach with an understanding of everyday rhythms, the present paper explores: (1) how this unprecedented space-time condition enables the emergence of intensity across low density areas; and (2) the spatial conditions involved in this potential. Empirical research undertaken in a low density Italian area, situated 50 km South of Milan, provides material for illustrating the argument.