2. Activation of the Space

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8 Design Principles Used In Creating Social Spaces

Activation of the space

The second Principle in this series is Activation of the space with activities or elements.

Port of Kennewick Columbia's Gardens

People always say that if you want people to come to the meeting bring food!  That may relate to design as well.  If you want people to use a space bring things for them to do.  That could be as simple providing space for recreation and people watching, or as complex as programming a daily schedule of classes or music venues or food vendors.  Things for people to do and see so that there is interest and interaction as they come and do things. 

That is why people say that design can be simply designing a shell of a space for activity to be programmed and occur.  Or design can be a space that by design facilitates the use of the space.

That is a designer provides space in some way to include events or elements that are periodically or spontaneously moved to that location that people enjoy and provide excitement or interest.  

This could be food vendors, music, outdoor theater, water features that turn on and off, special lighting, and many other things.  

The principle is to make the space for such things and then program them in.  Some communities are in partnership with a company that programs the activation elements of the site.

Normal residential areas would be limited to providing space for activation elements that people would provide for themselves.  Such as open fields or courts for pickup sport games and picnic tables and benches to meet and visit.  Community gardens are another option, as is a pavilion that can be used.  Others might have public hammocks or swings or a playground.

These spaces could provide room for whatever would be of interest to that community.  These activation elements provide the opportunity for people to get out and connect with other people.  There is also opportunity to grow and learn.  Activation of a space is a good principle of social connection in design.