Cities in the Era of Sharing Economy: from a Perspective of Urban Space

Abstract

The city, where modern urban life happens, not only allows for the exchange of goods and information, but also accommodates the production and consumption of social relations. The gathering of goods, information, people, and social relations in cities has promoted the growth of sharing economy. From Airbnb, Uber, to shared bicycles and shared office space, the idea of "sharing" seems to have become a new economic model and paradigm which, along with the mobile Internet, is rolling into everyone's daily life. In facing the new economy, which is characterized by sharing economy, and the more open social relations, urban life is inevitably undergoing dramatic changes. When we examine the city through the lens of sharing and apply the concept of sharing into urban design and management, it will not only bring great changes to the city's internal dynamics and socio-economic process, but also lead to a reconstruction of urban space. Responding to these changes and challenges, a number of cities are seeking for a more shared and open future, yet which could not be supported by the current urban space. This article tries to discuss the sharing economy and its characteristics with the study of contemporary urban space in order to envision the future of urban space within this revolution of sharing.

Keywords

Sharing Economy / City / Public Space / Spatiality

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2017 Higher Education Press