Municipal Market Halls: new social and spatial variations of proximity

The European scenario has long driven the proliferation of places of retail on public areas. Usually they have been characterized by a mature integration of retail services, administration, culture, education and shared time and by a significant component of service and added value introduced through not necessarily sectorial projects and policies. This paper gives an in-depth research and a critical comparison between the current economic, urban and cultural dynamics that are progressively driving regeneration and physical transformation of the market halls toward the qualitative configuration of urban centres of integrated services of proximity (local services). In this framework, also the Italian context is giving life to some interesting phenomena of spatial and product reorganization of municipal markets. From their original function of moderating prices and facilitating the matching of demand and supply, these particular facilities of the public city are increasingly diversifying themselves as practical tools for urban renovation, capable of improving the social relations among citizens, subjects of cultural promotion and local economic operators, often in the peripheral parts of the city.