Revisited Centrality: Tertiary Territorialities in the Digital Age

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the observed territorial changes resulting from the increasing integration of digital technologies into the scope of retail trade and services activities, with a significant impact on the nature, intensity, and direction of urban flows. We define the concept of centrality as an attribute that stems from the concentration of people, goods, and information. We revisit the concept through a historical review by considering classic authors and contemporary reflections based on literature under construction, supported by reports and recent research. This path allowed us to identify changes in socioeconomic and cultural contexts at global and local levels, demanding a counter-hegemonic review of urban management, public policies, and architecture. Three significant moments related to the importance of centrality in urban life were spotted: the identification of centralities and their attributes, centrality as a sought and planned vitality, and on-demand centrality.