Licit and illicit appropriations

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The appropriation of public space varies according to the place, gender, age, time of day and more. To appropriate a space is to feel at home there, to fill it with uses, but also to take care of it. The legitimacy of being a stakeholder in a space is built on this sense of belonging.

Regulatory frameworks are most often based on the idea that prohibition or obligation guarantee freedom for all. But sometimes you have to break the rules to appropriate a place. Spontaneous uses can quickly be considered illegal if they have not been approved in advance by the public authorities. However, some forms expressed in these uses are necessary for public action to move forward. How can we recognise and support them without being overly prescriptive?