Contribution short abstract:

The study examines giving benches in Tel Aviv’s urban renewal context. Focusing on middle-class neighborhoods, I ask how these informal acts of decluttering represent a form of street commoning. The study analyzes material and affective responses, including shame, embarrassment, and eco-irritation.

Contribution long abstract:

In recent years, Tel Aviv has experienced urban renewal driven by a real estate boom fueled by high-tech money. Interestingly, at the same time, "giving benches" and "pavement free stores" began appearing in upper middle-class neighborhoods. This trend can partly be attributed to global shifts in domestic design, Covid-19 community initiatives, and grassroots efforts supporting IDF soldiers amidst the Gaza war. However, much of the "selling" and "shopping" remains informal, driven by a desire to declutter or discard unwanted possessions.

While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact relationship between large-scale urban renewal and individual acts of decluttering the streets with unwanted objects, my focus is different. I will examine the social practice of pavement "free store" shopping and selling among middle-class Tel Avivians. Assuming that giving benches are part of a broader social and economic exchange, I ask: what kind of social practice does this street commoning represent, and what are its material and affective characteristics?

Drawing on ongoing urban ethnography, I will explore the details of this increasingly common practice, examining the meanings attached to it by passersby, "sellers," "shoppers," and city wardens. I will focus on the various affective responses associated with free street shopping, including shame, embarrassment, and disgust, as well as "eco-critical" emotions like "eco-irritation."