OSMOSI research project: a mapping process for socio-cultural hybrid spaces

This paper presents the initial outcomes of OSMOSI, an action-research project investigating socio-cultural hybrid spaces in Italy, with a specific focus on the regions of Lombardy and Sicily. The project aims to assess the impact of these spaces in terms of social innovation, economic sustainability, and the built environment, through a series of research actions. Adopting a design-driven mapping approach, outlined in this paper, the study combines desk research, surveys, and interviews. Through this methodology, 80 hybrid spaces were identified across Lombardy and Sicily. The analysis focuses on their identity, operational context, management model, economic model, and spatial quality. The paper first introduces the OSMOSI project and explores the concept of socio-cultural hybrid space, defined as a place of urban experimentation and social inclusion enabled by creative and cultural activities. It then details the development of the mapping process and the criteria adopted for the selection of the spaces under study. Preliminary findings from the mapping process are also presented, including accessibility as a key issue, the identification of primary and secondary functions, and the geographical distribution of the spaces. This study is intended to serve as a valuable resource for scholars engaged in investigating these multifaceted interactions, providing a framework for analysing sociocultural hybrid spaces across varied urban contexts.