Cité créative et District culturel ; une analyse des thèses en présence

The paper analyses the theoretical bases of the theses of the Creative Class and Creative City. The objective is to highlight the contributions of authors that preceded Richard Florida?s work and which put forward the factors susceptible to contribute to a city becoming a creative place. This can help in defining the conditions which can define an urban planning model centered on creativity and innovation. After the issue of the creative city, we thus develop on the creative class and then on the critics brought forward in regard to these two concepts. In the last part of the article, we examine an original form of spatial organization which is based on the thesis of the districts, and we highlight the work of Pier Luigi Sacco (Sacco et Blessi, 2005a,b) on cultural districts. This work appears important, while little known outside Italy. The objective of the paper is to illustrate the richness of writings on the importance of creativity and culture, while much of the debate is centered on Richard Florida?s work, which presents a particular, and limited, vision.