The Production of Space is a theoretical text written by Henri Lefebvre. It was first published in French in 1974, and later translated to English by Donald Nicholson-Smith in 1991. Lefebvre has carefully entwined a main theme within the pages of The Production of Space; he argues that space is a socially constructed phenomenon, which alters viewpoints and behaviors within it. This report will deal more specifically with Lefebvre’s views on social space and contradictory space; and the direct relationship the human has with the space they exist in. Lefebvre has written an astonishing amount of books on the importance of space and has been a large contributor to the mapping of modernity, which makes this book, and Henri Lefebvre, an integral part of studying space and its history.

The Production of Space deals primarily with the social constructs of space and the complexities that come from within. Lefebvre covers a lot of ground within this book, and a lot of deep theories are strewn across the pages. However, he has one clear theme that lingers throughout. This theme deals with the fact that all spaces are produced in one way or another; they do not simply exist, they were achieved. One of the main highlights he touches on frequently is the divide between natural space and social space, and clearly shows the differences. Along with this, Lefebvre writes about many other intrinsic areas of space and how it is produced. Some of these complex areas include how spaces are read and experienced, how spaces are represented and misrepresented and he often touches on the viewpoints of others, such as Marx, to show the similarities or dissimilarities in their theories. However, when reading The Production of Space, it is clear that Lefebvre aims to highlight some very interesting central points:

1. Humans produce their own world, and therefore produce space
2. Space is a plural entity that is ever-changing
3. Space changes perceptions and alters behaviors
4. Space is home to certain contradictions that alter future spatial production

These points continue to be reiterated throughout the text, and accompany the main theme while emphasizing the complexity of spatial analysis, as well as Lefebvre’s unique views.

It is obvious from the beginning of The Production of Space that Lefebvre believes space is the result of a social framework. Complex relationships and social behaviors continuously happen within spaces, and shape them as they happen. He also links this to production by stating: “In its broad sense, humans as social beings are said to produce their own life, their own consciousness, their own world. There is nothing, in history or society, which does not have to be achieved or produced” (Lefebvre, pg68). Another point Lefebvre makes from the beginning is the difference between natural spaces and ‘produced’ spaces. He is adamant that natural spaces are not ‘produced’ they are simply created. The difference between the two is poetically explained on page 70: “A tree, a flower or a fruit is not a product – even if it is in a garden. A rose has no why or wherefore; it blooms because it blooms… it ‘cares not whether it is seen’. It does not know that it is beautiful, that it smells good.” He goes on to add more: “‘Things’ are born, grow and ripen, wither and die.” These quotes clearly define the difference between nature and human; natural ‘birth’ of space in contrast to the human ‘production’ of space.

From here, he goes on to concrete the importance of social spaces within the world we live, and delve deeper into the complex construction of these themes. It is made clear to the reader very early in this text that social space is indeed plural, and many different social relationships shape spaces. “We are not confronted by one social space, but by many – indeed, by an unlimited multiplicity or uncountable set of social spaces which we refer to generically as ‘social space’” (Lefebvre, pg86). What he makes clear here, is that a space can contain and produce a vast array of different social situations – as an example, he defines ‘urban space’ on page 101: “Urban space gathers crowds, products in the markets, acts and symbols. It concentrates these, and accumulates them.” Lefebvre also emphasizes the divide between mental (‘true’) space and social (‘real’) space, and often describes the two in relation to certain professions – true space is described as the space of philosophers, whereas real space is described as the space of urban planners and architects. By doing this, Lefebvre illustrates to the reader, once again, the plurality of space; at the same time, however, he reiterates his earlier declaration: humans produce their own life and therefore their own spaces, true or real.

It is made clear, also, that space is not an ‘empty’ void that surrounds form. “For space is never empty: it always embodies a meaning” he states on page 154. This quote directly relates to Lefebvre’s views on space as a plural entity. He continuously makes it known that spaces are simply more than they appear, and hold much more significance than one would firstly think. Spaces are never empty, even if they appear so, because they can be bursting with messages and meanings, which cannot be seen with the eyes. He explores further, and argues that spaces change behaviors and perceptions by stating “Our space has strange effects. For one thing, it unleashes desire” (Lefebvre pg97). Here, Lefebvre shows how spaces, coupled with our interaction, connection and reaction to space when we find ourselves within it, can easily change our perceptions and behaviors. Therefore, due to the complexities found in space, Lefebvre believes that spaces can often be wonderfully immortal: “Such genius produces spaces full of meaning, spaces which first and foremost escape mortality: enduring, radiant” (Lefebvre, pg137). However, at the same time, Lefebvre becomes brutally honest in saying that spaces can be the complete opposite. On page 97, he states: “Spaces are devastated – and devastating; incomprehensibly so”. He continues to touch on the misleading nature of spaces throughout the text; Lefebvre argues that spaces lie, and that they ‘speak’ but they do not tell all (Lefebvre pg142). He also uncovers a darker spatiality, which he dubs ‘repressive space’. It is stated that such a space “wreaks of oppression and terror” but may be clouded with signs of the contrary. This quote concretes the previously mentioned misleading nature of spaces, and while doing so, again highlights how spaces can take on many different guises.

With space being such a forceful factor within society, it is almost an automatic assumption that certain spaces could have a detrimental effect. Urban spaces are undoubtedly the highest populated social spaces; shopping centres and the like become havens for social interactions. Such spaces glamorously illustrate the plurality and deceptive nature of social space, however, at the same time, they are at the forefront of a modernist urban takeover. On page 326, Lefebvre quotes: “By means of urbanization, under the pressure of the world market; and in, accordance with the law of the reproducible and the repetitive, by abolishing spatial and temporal differences, by destroying nature and nature’s time. Is there not a danger that the economic sphere fetishized as the world market, along with the space that it determines… might destroy their own foundation – namely land, space, town and country – and thus in effect self-destruct?” Clearly demonstrated in this quote is the reference to commodity fetishism that Guy Debord writes about in his book The Society of the Spectacle. Lefebvre highlights the commodity fetishism (‘reproducible and repetitive’) as a large factor, and the thirst for ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ spaces that is rampant within society. The thirst for more, is causing detrimental urban spaces to be formed without consideration. Lefebvre believes, however, that spaces harbor certain contradictions – new contradictory social spaces planted within existing spaces that are bound to influence change. We are currently experiencing this change, through courses like Design Futures and other similar movements; these are slow growing but they are there, which proves Lefebvre’s theorem to be a valid one.

The Production of Space by Henri Lefebvre is an interesting evaluation of space and the complexities that surround it, and is an essential resource in order to understand space itself, and ultimately how it is produced. Lefebvre continuously places emphasis on the fact that as humans we cannot help but produce the world we live in. He clearly shows that most of us do not understand the extent of what we are unknowingly producing, whether we are producing our own ‘space’ or something more detrimental. On a personal level, Lefebvre’s text has clearly shown that spaces are ever changing and have numerous ways of presenting themselves; which is one of the first things to consider during the process of design. It also reiterates that spaces are almost always social, and the enigma of ‘space’ can have many different effects on society and the people within it.

Referencing

1. Lefebvre, H, 1974. The Production of Space. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.