Collective research project
Jordi Nofre, Daniel Malet Calvo, Joao Martins, Manuel Garcia-Ruñiz, Iñigo Sánchez-Fuarros et al.
2014 – 2021
The urban night has emerged as a sophisticated field of inquiry across disciplines. Recent scholarship examines multiple dimensions of nighttime cities—from entertainment venues and substance consumption to safety concerns. Particularly significant is the night-time economy’s (NTE) role in urban regeneration, especially in historic neighborhoods and post-industrial areas.
In today’s competitive landscape where cities compete to attract investment, creative talent, and tourism, the NTE represents a valuable asset. This is especially evident in Lisbon, which city officials and tourism stakeholders actively promote as a vibrant nightlife destination.
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 combines anthropologists, sociologists, ethnomusicologists, and geographers from various Portuguese research institutes, united by their shared interest in urban dynamics.
The project investigates 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?
- 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
- National and local administrations’ role in shaping nighttime spaces
- Relevant policies and regulatory frameworks
- Inclusion and exclusion dynamics
- 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.
