A Typology of Faces of the City

The urban space is teeming with faces, shaping the city’s identity and experience. From the biological faces of its inhabitants to symbolic representations in art, monuments and media, faces play a multifaceted role in urban life. This paper explores the diverse manifestations of faces in urban spaces, examining their cultural, social and political significance, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the role of faces in shaping urban environments. In doing so, the paper introduces a typology of the facial presence within the urban space, including biological faces, urban inscriptions, practices and digital assemblages. By delineating these categories, the study aims to provide a framework for future research to explore the meanings and interpretations of faces in urban contexts.