A social space is a communal area where people an interact without having to pay. A place where anybody can go, sit, relax, and co exist with others enjoying the area. It is nice to have a body of water in a social space. An ideal space is place that encourages street art and street performance, skaters, chess, possibly a person selling snacks, drinks, or other artisan items. Many benches are very nice, and there shouldn’t be any gates unless it is the walkway for a bridge.
A non social space, is something like a strip mall, which encourages the consumer to drive, park, go in, get the desired good/service, and then leave. These kind of spaces are far too common and we need more social spaces Although, in most of the United States, social spaces like parks often become areas for “suspicious” behavior…. or they are empty, void of humans.
I believe it is a cultural thing though, New York City the parks are heavily populated due to the lack of social space. When I first went to Germany when I was 16 I was shocked to see the parks packed with people young and old…
I love how in New York the social spaces reflect the neighborhood or little zone they are in, Union Square, Washington sq, china town parks
