6 Choice and Options

 

6

8 Design Principles Used in Creating Social Spaces 

Choice and Options

One interesting principle suggested is that of choice.  People desire options and choices they can make depending on their mood or current interests or needs.  You might say this is a principle of health.  

You see the chairs in the picture at the above.  One choice here is the option to move the chairs since they are movable.

We each have different boundaries for our need for stimulation or mental rest, and these needs change throughout our days, and lives and based on our life situations, our relationships, our tasks or activities. We can customize our space to our needs by when the designers provide options and adaptability.

Giving people choices allows them to have a say in their private and public spaces.  Walking route options are a significant decision for people choosing a scenic route or functional route or just a different route for a change.  Their route may have to do with their recreational choices.

Seating options is another major choice for people in their designed spaces.  People want private spaces sometimes and public spots others.  They want spaces that can then view others from a distance.  

People also want to feel safe and have some openness.  Safety is always an issue to struggle with in designed public space.  Sometimes we want to be near others and sometimes keep people at a distance though we may still want to see people.  The point is to provide options for seating for people.  Sun spots, shade spots, seating where breezes blow and protected spots.  Use different materials for seating options as well.

Providing options of food and other amenities.  The choices principle overlaps with activating space as the choices a person may want have to do with activities or amenities.  So provide space in your designs for amenities and activation of your spaces so people have choices of things to see, eat, or do.

Along those lines people want exercise choices.  Some people are walking, some are biking, some are skating or running through these spaces.  Some are going to a destination, and some are just passing through.  As well some are focused going where they need to go and some are exploring and sightseeing.  

The last aspect to mention on giving people choices is to give them things to view or vistas to view from.  The picture to the right shows sculpture in a public space as an option.  But the long vista of the walkway open space is also part of the view.  Give people views of nature and its processes, views of art, views of shapely design, views of other people doing what they do.

All of these elements related to choice lead to interest for people and social connection as they move through a space where others are making their own choices too.