Tactical Urbanism: Description and Analysis of Its Associated Lexicons

Tactical urbanism is commonly characterized by punctual and low-cost actions, whereas their development and insertion have a plural character, promoting social capital. Similarly, other terms are used to nominate those practices as bottom-up, do-it-yourself urbanism, guerrilla urbanism, etc. Thus, there is a set of specific terms aimed at this niche of urban production, which forms a lexicon. However, it is essential to understand the nuances of each use of these terms associated with the production of cities on a small scale, which assumes different connotations. For this purpose, we revisit the historicity of the events surrounding tactical urbanism, starting with the Smithsons, Jacobs, de Certeau, and other urban theorists. They emphasized the protagonism of citizens and their relationship with actions in—and with the public space, while also reflecting upon the notion of collective city-building. The considerations developed in this period have since been revisited after the global crisis of 2008, informing novel approaches to urban ideation and construction. Therefore, we shall delve into the lexicons pertaining to the formulation of the term tactical urbanism, as well as the designations of the tactics themselves, discerning the terminologies employed and their alignment with the corresponding practices. Finally, it is crucial to consider the boundaries and potentialities of tactical urbanism as a concept and set of practices particularly concerning associated terminologies, as they can either expand or restrict its application, or even disregard other analogous practices.