Intersecting Temporalities: History, Projects, and Social Practices in the Contemporary City

Abstract

The dossier *Intersecting Temporalities: History, Projects, and Social Practices in the Contemporary City* begins with a persistent question in the field of urban studies: how time shapes the city and how the city, in turn, organizes the time of those who inhabit it. The aim is to understand how temporalities influence the physical configuration, institutional functioning, and everyday experience of urban spaces. This approach presents theoretical and methodological challenges that cannot be resolved within a single disciplinary tradition. Consequently, the analysis integrates contributions from diverse fields to address the temporal regimes that permeate the urban realm—ranging from the long durations of history to the fragmented rhythms of individual life. The goal is to understand how time is constructed, lived, and represented in varied contexts, without losing sight of the tensions between these different layers.