The Centre and Periphery: The Role of City Embankments and Youth Practices

The article focuses on city embankments as social and spatial developments, which are an essential attribute of the integral element in lifestyle citizens. As a contact point between water, act public spaces that exercise wide range functions. They also become points attraction for various groups, including young people. In study conducted autumn 2021, we focused large industrial (Yekaterinburg, Russia). “centre-periphery” vector was used basis typology embankments, value people attach to has been determined. Using methods observation interviews (n = 16), it found leading functions central views youth communicative, aesthetic, integrative, leisure, flânerie, cognitive, transit, self-awareness, security, identity assertion. Peripheral structure space, develop neighbourhood support function spending free time. At same time, undeveloped areas periphery being marginalised dangerous. argues need peripheral through well-maintained footpaths, access leisure recreational infrastructure, creating comfortable living conditions “appropriation” their production actions interactions different groups citizens,