Praça da paz : espaço público na cidade de João Pessoa-PB

Abstract

The public space known as Praça da Paz (Peace Square) is analyzed from the everyday perspective, through practical activities, and based on the meaning of acquaintance adopted by those ones who use the square . In this way, the process of production and appropriation of such public space is related to the levels of sociability, even when there is a variety of users with different objectives. We discuss, in this academic paper, the use of the space know as Praça da Paz , in Bancários, one of the neighborhoods in the city of João Pessoa, in the State of Paraíba, aiming to analyze the construction of the mentioned square in that place and how often people use it building up the sense of sociability. The main problematic presented in this paper intends to show how important this public place is in producing social relations, in other words, the important role the square plays in establishing relations of sociability. The square constitutes, from its different uses and regular everyday practices, a contribution to produce a special meaning to this public space: the acquaintance. The text is organized in three different dimensions: the governmental planning of the squares directed to the progress and the beauty of the city in the first decades of the 20th century, offering a public space to the population; theorize the perception about public places as a social product, and map out the aspects involving the construction of the square from a participative management between government and citizens; highlight the importance of that space as a gathering place and social acquaintance leading to sociability.