Narrating Palermo through its coexistences: urban practices in the Kalsa district

This research paper explores the interplay between cultural, urban, and everyday practices in Palermo’s Kalsa district (Italy) through the lens of architecture, ethnography, sociology, and historiography. It examines how these intertwined dynamics shape the district’s strong local identity. The study further investigates the role of architecture as a tool for fostering coexistence and mediating social differences. In an area where diverse social classes inhabit the same space yet experience it in contrasting ways, architectural design can serve as a framework for managing spatial appropriation and interaction.