As someone who has worked in the architectural profession for over 20 years, I know that making "good" space is no easy feat. There are so many systems that need to be wrestled and wrangled when you create space. There are multiple stakeholders, needs, and functions that need to be considered, compromised on, and served.
At Spatial Medium, I help clients understand how to look at these interdisciplinary systems and their spaces through a framework I created called Intentional Spacemaking™.
It breaks down into (3) different systems:
There is the Container system - the boundary/environment of the space. This includes systems that physically make the space like Building (ie: structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc), Accessibility, Senses, Function, and Circulation.
There is the Activation system - what you do in the space. This involves systems that affect and drive the End-User tasks/engagement, External Programming, Staff tasks, and DEI (which we now know - from it's tragic, abrupt dismantling and disappearance - is vast and expansive, including not only cultural and economic repair/support, but different ability environmental efforts as well).
And there is the Caretaking system - how you feel in or what you know about the space. I think of this as including Communication, Social Expectations, Access, Autonomy, Safety, Comfort, and Context/History.
Each list of smaller systems within the (3) main systems is not exhaustive. Nor are the elements siloed only within their listed system. When building a strategy to navigate a complex scenario, elements tend to overlap and serve many functions.
For instance, in a building the Structural system may support and define an External Programming element which may exist to serve the End-User and also bring Context and History to the space. 3-in-1.
Bringing all of these systems together to create something functional and lovely to experience takes massive, coordinated effort from multiple stakeholders, professionals, and participants. This is architecture - providing, understanding, and organizing multidisciplinary design solutions within physical and client constraints to create a cohesive experience within the space.
Looking back, what we are taught in architecture school is mostly about how to create the Container and ways to Activate the space. Caretaking - at least when I was in school - took a bit of a back seat.
But I have felt for many years that Caretaking is really the driving force for designing both of the first two systems.
So let’s look at Caretaking.
Self-care is such a trendy word in our culture at the moment. You can't open a social media app without someone telling you the self-care habit or product that has changed their life for the better, regardless of whether or not it is true. Mostly, it's a way to sell you something.
However, when I talk about Caretaking I'm really talking about how we care for our communities in addition to ourselves.
While that could mean gifting someone bath salts or matcha tea, I believe it's more effective to think about it in the ways we engage and build with our communities, extending passive and active support. And in ways we ourselves might want to be supported by others.
Are we engaging (and listening to!) all voices when making neighborhood decisions?
Are we shopping local businesses and artists to keep money circulating in our community?
Are we participating in regulatory meetings that shape our social policies?
Are we providing mutual aid in the ways we are able (financial, donation, or time) so all people in our neighborhood have basic needs met?
Are we creating community spaces with local community needs in mind?
Do we understand and acknowledge the context and history of the space and communities that existed prior to this moment?
All of these caretaking elements contribute to and can shift how space is experienced and fostered. Why not design with it from the start?
We’ve already had practice.
We all remember 2020, particularly on this 5th anniversary.
I suspect what a lot of us experienced during the pandemic is a great example of how to design caretaking into our everyday lives. We finally got to know our neighbors, we checked in on each other more often, and we supported those who were on the frontlines (who cared for us).
During that time of extreme uncertainty, we collectively and naturally built space for caretaking ourselves and others into our day.
I recently came across a post on Instagram by Karli E. , PhD(c) who goes by @thewellbeingscientist. While she is not in the architectural industry, she does hold the same belief that I do; that self-care and community-care extends to how we create space (and cities and experiences, etc) for ourselves and others in the world.
It's not a radical idea per se. Living in community with others is the way our ancestors survived to allow us to be here, now, in this time. Life is hard and they did not navigate it on their own. They had help!
Our ancestors inherently knew that designing spaces (particularly 3rd spaces) with community care at the core would be essential to creating a well-lived and supported life.
I think now, particularly in this current world of poly-crisis (or poly-opportunity as House of Beautiful Business would posit), Caretaking needs to be re-centered in the new futures we design.
Just take a minute to think about what would be possible if we insisted on Caretaking each other as a primary design tenet for our physical spaces, products, and experiences...
Opportunity indeed!
How have you designed space or experience with Caretaking at the core?
Do you provide a weekly dinner for your neighbors to pop in and say hello? Does your business provide sliding scale services or free offerings so they are accessible to all? Did your view on or capacity for Caretaking change at all during the pandemic?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!