How the high-income class uses a public space: The neighbourhood square in Goiánia/Brazil

The public space has an important role in fostering urban life, since it absorbs and mediatesconflicts between public and private dimensions (CALDEIRA, 2007; VAZ, 2010; OLIVEIRA, 2013). Its appropriation and maintenance in Brazil havebeen considered ineffective, discontinued or privileged; the special differentiation and pressure is run by the higher income classes, which have territory control (LOJKINE, 1981; CASTELLS, 1983; VILLAÇA, 2001). This elite is composed by landowners who command the production process and is politically and ideologically dominant (OLIVEIRA, 1975). Its residencecommonly occurs: (I) in the central areas in vertical condominiums (with easy accessibility to commerce, retail, and other services); and (II) horizontal condominiumsin the urban fringes (because of safety, distinction, and availability of space). Basedon these premises, this study aims at understanding in which way the higher income classes take possession of public spaces in the context of “neighbourhood squares”. With a descriptive and exploratory approach, it considers as a case study T-23 square inGoiânia, an expensive regionthat ownsa complete infrastructure. The analysis is structured in two parts: (1) identification of existing elements, activities, and ways of occupation; and (2), through interviews, recordsof motivating criteria of use and residential rental. The results point to a consistent appropriation, by users of different ages and profiles, in distinct activities in different periods; they reveal use and socialization of the residents. Vitality promoting elements, associated with the proximity of quality equipment and its good conservation, seems to justify the occupation and appropriatio