Social infrastructure in diverse and unequal cities: Examining Civic Management facilities in Barcelona

This article offers a nuanced exploration of the notion of social infrastructure and its capacity to foster encounters and strengthen social ties in urban contexts. Focusing on Civic Management Facilities in Barcelona—municipally owned and funded spaces managed by local non-profit associations that offer cultural, youth, and leisure activities accessible to all residents—this study examines their potential as central neighbourhood hubs. It addresses the gap in understanding how these facilities enable spaces of encounter in contexts characterised by social fragmentation, inequality, and diversity. Employing a mixed-methods case study approach, the findings reveal how social inequalities and power dynamics shape the use of Civic Management Facilities, often resulting in the underrepresentation of neighbourhood diversity. The study underscores the importance of agency in enhancing inclusive participation by vulnerable groups within social infrastructures. Facility managers, through sustained efforts, implement mechanisms to promote user diversity and cultivate public familiarity—understood as the recognition of the facility and unfamiliar individuals as integral parts of the community. By analysing the relational dimension of social infrastructure, this research provides a deeper understanding of how these spaces can promote encounters and inclusion in urban settings marked by inequality and socio-cultural diversity. • Social infrastructure plays a crucial role in fostering social ties in socially fragmented societies. • Civic-liberal perspectives overlook the impact of social inequalities on access to and use of social infrastructure. • Agency and relational strategies enable social infrastructure to become spaces of encounter. • Despite challenges in building strong ties among diverse neighbours, social infrastructure fosters public familiarity.