The Art of Gathering
Adam Scott
Founder and Global Creative Director at FreeState // Co-Author The Experience Book and ReThink Design Guide // Visiting Fellow at Central Saint Martins, UAL
I'm not sure about you, but every time I end up in London, I'm struck by how bloody empty it is.
Not everywhere, of course, but in offices, on the tube, in the streets. Perhaps I'm getting over-sensitive in my old age, but I feel oppressed by what feels like the decline in the art of gathering. The tyranny of the empty space is upon us and no more so than where we might least expect it: our cities.
And it's going to get worse, with some predicting that up to 30% of commercial real estate in cities like London and New York will be empty by 2030. The reasons are no doubt myriad, with advances in technology, or the conditioning of whole lives spent indoors on screens, or the long tail of Covid, all standing in as strong candidates. However, I think it may also be a symptom of modern city making, which in post-industrial countries is relatively fast, often inorganic, and obsesses on skylines, silhouettes, and the sculptural quality of its buildings. They don't come from or have grown through the long traditions of gathering. Any doubts about this, go visit New Songdo and look for anything resembling what might be called a bottom-up gathering.
The city is the future, for all sorts of reasons, not least economic necessity, cultural diversity, innovation and creativity, and its (presently counterintuitive) contribution to slowing environmental change. It'd be a massive shame if the Smart or U-City - for all its extraordinary technological and engineering wizardry - were to edit out what makes the city what it is: the gathering of the many, in all sorts of forms, and in all sorts of spaces.
But tell me I'm wrong, give me some fine examples where masterplanning is led by and in turns inspires gathering!
Thrive on Leading | Creating | Transforming - and being the wildcard.
6moAdam Scott https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/cities/2024/apr/06/why-has-15-minute-city-taken-off-paris-toxic-idea-uk-carlos-moreno
Thrive on Leading | Creating | Transforming - and being the wildcard.
6moBeen ruminating on this Adam Scott since you posted it. I acknowledge my example is not in the context of what you were looking for but it meets the brief 😉 ... My mind keeps returning to how nature and seasons are our ultimate master planner that inspire us to gather in so many different ways. In Sydney, we have been enjoying a glorious tail end to Summer. Sydney siders are drawn to be near and in water, in parks and gardens. People gather with food and play music and games. We form daily and or weekly rituals throughout the summer. Memories for ourselves and our children, and we eagerly look forward to when summer will return. And now we turn to Autumn...
Director of User Experience @ OutSystems | UX, Design Thinking. Neuroscientist & Designer
7moAt the heart of the matter is a simple question: what's the real purpose of a city? Take Amsterdam's fight against empty city centers, where banning Airbnb (way before covid) and reducing car traffic are moves to make the city more about living than just visiting or working. This reflects a broader rethink of urban life—shouldn't cities be places where people actually want to live? (opposed to work/visit etc) Who is the "ideal" urban actor, is it the worker? To offer an alternative view on London, maybe the way its center was used before COVID wasn't quite right and this is nature's gentle nudge to fix that... Cities are changing, driven by new ways of working and living. We're drawn to experiences, and if cities fall short, we'll look elsewhere. The rise of working from home shows some of these changes are here to stay. The previous participation in the city was e.g. the magnet of work, it wasn't the city itself. In essence, cities need to adapt quickly. They should be places that draw people in, offering a space not just for work but for life itself. By focusing on making cities livable, we can ensure they remain vibrant and appealing for everyone.
Artist and Designer ✂️ Passionate about Making Good Things Happen ❤️ Founder of Common Exception 🟡 Bringing Joy, Mindfulness & Community together through Creative Projects & Workshops
7moI think it depends where you as some places are still buzzing but I agree with central London. There’s been a lot of ‘designing out’ rather than ‘designing in’ which has contributed to this. Hanna Benihoud made a very good case at the Fourthspace Ltd #negronitalk about streets needing to delight. I’d say the same for office and retail spaces too. Really interesting article Adam Scott!
Company Owner at Applied Research Creative Studio Limited
7moNext time you’re visiting Central Saint Martins I’d like to give you a tour of Lower Stable Street next door!