Crystal Clear City of Glass The Invisible Construction of Urban Imaginary

Abstract

Through Benjamin’s philosophical power of banality used as a tool, connections will be made between the structural use of glass and certain key aspects of Modern thought. It will be seen that the glass used to cover some passages in Paris provoked the creation of both shopping malls and a new type of urban dweller. Glass will be understood as a transparent membrane between the public and the private space, as well as an element of protection and fascination.