How to better understand cities using Lefebvre's spatial triad

When I think about growing up in Johannesburg, my memories aren’t just of streets or buildings. I think about the sprawling taxi ranks buzzing with life, the high-rise apartments towering over busy markets, and the makeshift soccer fields scattered across various parks. The city didn’t just exist around me - it shaped who I was and how I moved through the world. In turn, I, and countless others, also shaped the city itself.

This is the heart of Henri Lefebvre’s social production of space: cities aren’t just collections of buildings and roads. They’re alive, constantly created and recreated by the people who live, plan, and navigate them. Lefebvre, a French philosopher whose work has been hugely influential in understanding cities, proposed that space is more than just physical: it’s something we experience, shape, and understand in different ways. His concept, known as the spatial triad, breaks this down into three layers: Representations of Space, Representational Space, and Spatial Practice.

I've found this framework extremely useful in my urban geography research, as it formed the basis of my 2019 study on youth mobility and e-hailing, as well as my Master's Dissertation on discrimination and domestic work in Apartheid-era apartment buildings. In this blog, I unpack these layers, explaining what they mean and how they play out in real life, especially in a complex city like Johannesburg.

The City as Conceived: Representations of Space

What is it?

Representations of space, or conceived space, are the ways in which space is imagined, planned, and controlled by those with power: urban planners, architects, policymakers. This is the city on paper: the maps, zoning plans, and development frameworks that shape how urban space is organised.

An example in Johannesburg:

Think about the sprawling malls that dot Johannesburg, like Sandton City. These spaces were designed to serve a very specific vision of the city—a space for commerce, leisure, and high-end shopping. In this case, city planners and developers conceived this space as a hub for economic activity, intended to attract both locals and international visitors. But what’s key here is that this conceived space reflects the priorities of those in power - developers and business owners - rather than the everyday needs of all Johannesburg’s residents.

Why it matters:

Understanding conceived space helps explain why certain areas of a city seem disconnected from its people. Malls, office parks, and high-rise developments often reflect the interests of economic growth and prestige, but they can feel sterile or exclusionary to those who don’t fit into the imagined demographic. Recognising this helps professionals in development or social care see the gaps between policy-driven spaces and the realities of the people who live there.

The City as Lived: Representational Space

What is it?

Representational space, or lived space, is how people experience, transform, and personalise their surroundings. This is the emotional, symbolic, and everyday interaction with the city. Unlike the abstract plans of conceived space, lived space is messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. It’s where culture, identity, and social dynamics play out.

An example in Johannesburg:

Nelson Mandela Bridge is, on the surface, the bridge is a symbol of progress and unity, linking Braamfontein and Newtown, two historically important areas of the city. It was designed to be an iconic structure, named after one of the most revered figures in South African history. In conceived space, it’s a connector, an efficient piece of infrastructure meant to symbolise freedom and connection.

But the lived space of Nelson Mandela Bridge tells a different story. For many Joburgers, the bridge isn’t simply a route between two parts of the city: it carries a much more charged symbolism. Over the years, it has gained a reputation for being unsafe, particularly for pedestrians who often avoid it due to fears of being mugged. Walking across the bridge becomes an experience of vulnerability and risk, and the bridge itself starts to symbolise danger rather than connection. Despite its intended purpose, the lived experience of this space is one of caution, mistrust, and avoidance for many people.

Why it matters:

Understanding representational space is crucial for anyone working with communities or urban spaces because it shows how the emotional and symbolic meanings attached to spaces can have a real impact on how they are used - or avoided. The Nelson Mandela Bridge, despite its intended role as a symbol of progress, becomes a place that some people fear. This kind of insight can help city planners, social workers, and developers address not only the physical aspects of urban space but also the emotional and social dynamics that shape people’s interactions with it. For professionals in urban development, tuning into these layers of symbolism can offer a deeper understanding of the barriers people face in their everyday lives. If a space is symbolically associated with danger or exclusion, those perceptions must be addressed alongside any physical interventions.

The City as Perceived: Spatial Practice

What is it?

Spatial practice, or perceived space, focuses on the physical and practical ways people engage with space—how we move through it, change it, and interact with it on a daily basis. This is the most visible and material part of space, but it’s not just about buildings or infrastructure; it’s about how space is used and transformed by everyday activities.

An example in Johannesburg:

Think about the city’s informal settlements, such as Alexandra or parts of Soweto. These areas are a powerful example of spatial practice. They are physical spaces that have been shaped and reshaped by the people who live there. Despite the absence of formal planning or infrastructure, residents have created homes, markets, and social networks that are vital to the life of the city. This transformation of space happens because of necessity: people creating a life in a city that might not have planned for them.

Why it matters:

Spatial practice shows that people are constantly shaping the city in response to their needs. For professionals working in development, recognising how people adapt their environments can offer insights into where resources or interventions are needed. It also highlights the resilience and creativity of communities in navigating spaces that may not have been designed with them in mind.

Why the Spatial Triad Matters

What makes Lefebvre’s spatial triad so powerful is how it brings together these three different perspectives on space: the abstract, the lived, and the practical. In cities like Johannesburg, where inequality and division are often stark, understanding how space is conceived, lived, and practiced can reveal why certain areas thrive while others struggle.

For example, looking at the stark contrast between Sandton and Alexandra, just a few kilometres apart, Lefebvre’s triad helps explain how the conceived space of one (a global financial hub) can be so disconnected from the lived space of the other (a densely populated, informal settlement). The way these two spaces interact - or fail to - can tell us a lot about the broader social and economic dynamics at play in the city.

How You Can Apply Lefebvre’s Triad

If you’re working in a field that engages with cities, Lefebvre’s spatial triad offers a way to think critically about space. Here are a few practical takeaways:

• Don’t just focus on the maps and plans (conceived space): Engage with the people who live in the spaces you’re working on. Their experiences will give you a fuller picture of how space actually functions.
• Pay attention to the symbols and meanings attached to space (lived space): Whether it's a park, a street corner, or a community centre, spaces often hold emotional and cultural significance that goes beyond their planned function. Understanding these dynamics can help you make interventions that are more meaningful and sustainable.
• Look at how space is physically used and transformed (spatial practice): Whether it's an informal settlement or a street market, people are constantly adapting their environments. Recognising these adaptations can help inform more responsive and effective planning.

Johannesburg, like any city, is far more than its buildings and streets. It’s a living, breathing organism, shaped by the people who plan it, live in it, and transform it. Lefebvre’s spatial triad reminds us that cities are never neutral: they reflect the complex interplay of power, culture, and everyday life. Whether you’re an urban planner, a community worker, or someone trying to better understand the city around you, this framework can help you see the city in a new light. In Johannesburg, the city that shaped me, the lessons of Lefebvre’s triad are alive everywhere, from the gleaming towers of Sandton to the bustling streets of Soweto.

By embracing these multiple layers of space, we can work towards creating cities that are not only functional but also more just, inclusive, and alive to the needs of all their inhabitants.