Independent collaborative research
Jordi Nofre (PI)
2014 – 2021
The urban night has become a sophisticated field of inquiry across multiple disciplines. Recent scholarship examines nighttime cities from various angles—entertainment venues, substance consumption, safety concerns—but one dimension stands out: the night-time economy’s (NTE) role in urban regeneration, particularly in historic neighborhoods and post-industrial areas.
In today’s competitive landscape, where cities vie for investment, creative talent, and tourism, the NTE represents a valuable asset. Lisbon exemplifies this trend. City officials and tourism stakeholders actively promote the Portuguese capital as a vibrant nightlife destination, positioning its after-dark culture as central to its urban brand.
This research project explores urban nightlife as both a subject of study and an analytical lens for understanding broader contemporary urban changes. The interdisciplinary team brings together anthropologists, sociologists, ethnomusicologists, and geographers from various Portuguese research institutes, united by their shared interest in urban dynamics.
The project investigates two key questions about Lisbon’s evolving nightscape: How do emerging forms of urban nightlife impact the spatial, social, and economic configuration of Lisbon’s historic areas? And what is the relationship between the night-time economy and processes of gentrification, touristification, and studentification?
The research focuses on seven historic districts—Alfama, Mouraria, Intendente, Baixa, Bairro Alto, Santa Catarina, and Cais do Sodré—examining how Lisbon’s new «distinguished» urban nightscapes both produce and result from these interrelated urban processes. The investigation analyzes the emergence of new urban nightscapes, how diverse actors negotiate interests, conflicts, and strategic alliances, and the role national and local administrations play in shaping nighttime spaces. It also examines relevant policies and regulatory frameworks, inclusion and exclusion dynamics, and the transformation or displacement of traditional working-class leisure practices.
LXnights consolidates a diverse research group of early-career and senior scholars while developing an innovative line of investigation into the night-time economy and its urban implications.
