Patterns of (dis)agreement: revealing differences in perceived neighborhood boundaries in Lisbon

Abstract. The city of Lisbon is home to several traditional neighborhoods that depict the capital’s history but face challenges arising from tourism and new population dynamics. Lacking administrative jurisdictions, their boundaries are perceived and defined differently among residents. By employing a participatory approach, we collect and analyzed residents’ spatial perceptions of three symbolic neighborhoods - Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto. Findings unveil different patterns of disagreement among participants, shedding light on potential mechanisms and factors that might influence their interactions with, and consequently, their perceptions of boundaries. Age, length of residence and residence proximity were the factors that caused the most distinguishable patterns between participant groups. This preliminary study seeks to contribute to both the broader research on neighborhood mapping and the understanding of residents’ geographies that can ultimately guide local policy-making.