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phd proposal

 

phd research proposal summary

Rethinking European Airports:
From Non-Places to Glocalized and Liminal Third Places

 

This project explores the evolving social and spatial dynamics of European airports, challenging traditional views of them as anonymous, transitional, or purely commercial zones. Moving beyond frameworks like “non-place” and “periphery,” it examines how they are increasingly tied to their urban settings, shaped by local culture, spatial design, and evolving placemaking efforts. Introducing the concept of glocalized liminal third places, the study offers a new lens for understanding airports as culturally grounded environments where practices of connection, exchange, and place-making unfold. Through six case studies and a mixed-methods approach, the project seeks to reposition airports as socially meaningful spaces with complex roles in shaping guest experience and spatial identity.

 

Research Questions:

  1. How have traditional concepts such as "non-places", “periperiality”, and "third places" shaped current understandings of European airports, and how does introducing the concept of "glocalized liminal third places" fundamentally alter this perspective?

  2. In what ways do European airports, as "glocalized liminal third places," actively foster unique forms of social interaction, cultural exchange, and local community engagement, and how does this reshape regional development and local identity?

  3. How does viewing European airports through the lens of "glocalized liminal third places" affect the experience for guests, and why is understanding guest experience essential to fully grasping airports' evolving socio-cultural roles in global mobility?

 

significance & use cases

This research introduces a framework for understanding airports as glocalized liminal third places, offering practical insight for planners, policymakers, and airport operators aiming to design more socially responsive environments. It provides a way to assess how airports reflect local identity, foster meaningful interaction, and support evolving spatial roles. Beyond practice, the framework also contributes to scholarship in mobility, urban studies, and cultural geography, offering a lens for analyzing the social and spatial functions of airports across diverse types and settings.