This past year, living in the crowded expensive city of London, I have come to really treasure open community spaces. One spot that I love is London’s Southbank Centre. This enormous complex houses cultural icons like the Royal Festival Hall and the famous Hayward Gallery. But of equal importance to me is the building’s simple lobby (left); a place filled with tables, couches, free wifi and a cafe. Here groups hold meetings, people do work on laptops, some folks chat while others quietly read. While it may not sound much different than a typical coffee house – it is. There is no pressure to buy anything, no sign in sheet or regulated time slots. The cafe is a bonus; a side attraction to this community hub. As public spaces disappear or become commodified, this kind of environment seems increasingly scarce, especially in large cities.
Another example of an inviting community gathering space is Pielab in Greensboro, SC (right). I first read about this shop in the Jan. issue of ID magazine. The shop was initiated by Project M, a group of designers hoping to use the humble slice of pie and a cup of coffee as a way to start conversation and build relationships within the town. The shop’s success has enabled it to become a permanent institution, one that still serves affordable pie, but also helps train local youth in culinary arts, holds exhibitions and even offers the occasional ballroom dancing class. Its simplicity and openness has allowed it to evolve and become a true community center.
These are the kind of places I wish museums could be. While some insitutions’ face limitations because of their physical space, I think there is room to get creative. Not every museum has to host ballroom dancing or offer free internet, but perhaps some should. There is an opportunity for museums to fill the void left by our vanishing public spaces; it may not be a model that’s right for every institution, but a slice of pie never hurt anyone.
