Relations between ground floor activity and the touristification of public spaces in historic port centres: three case studies of the Western Mediterranean Arc

Abstract

The historic centres of Western Mediterranean port cities are experiencing significant urban transformations driven by touristification. Commercial gentrification and privatisation of public spaces are key processes reshaping urban areas, often displacing local residents and businesses. Existing research typically examines these variables in isolation while overlooking their interconnected and cumulative impacts. This study proposes a comprehensive methodology for identifying gentrified and touristified areas, focusing on ground floor activities in historic port centres. This research analyses ground floor typologies, franchising, and privatisation through a unified indicators system of public space. The methodology was tested in Genoa (Italy), Malaga (Spain), and Nice (France), cities with similar urban morphologies and historic port functions with different tourism pressures: emerging, saturated, and highly saturated. Extensive fieldwork collected data from over 50 public spaces in each city. Results reveal distinct patterns: Genoa has a commercially dominant fabric with signs of gentrification; Malaga features polarised commercial and catering activities, with extreme gentrification and privatisation; Nice is characterised by intense catering activity and high privatisation of public spaces. These patterns highlight how ground floor use has evolved under different tourism pressures, offering insights into urban dynamics. These findings can inform strategies to mitigate gentrification and touristification, promoting more sustainable urban development.