Space

I’ve always been interested in space. Not space as in the vast void within which sits our tiny planet amongst the trillions and trillions of other celestial bodies. Although that is interesting too!

Space as in the places that we occupy. The places where we live and work and hang out. Where we study, socialise and create. Where we congregate to celebrate or commiserate. Where we spend our time alone, or where we mix with other humans.

Space in that context can be as vast as the other type.

And space can have a profound impact on how we think, see and how we relate to the world.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to take part in an online adventure (I won’t call it a course – even though that was what it was pitched as) with the hugely talented Carlo Navato. The premise of Carlo’s thinking is that the physical space that we inhabit has a direct effect on our creativity, and that we should give consideration to structuring and maximising the spaces that we occupy to promote and fuel that creativity. Spend any time in Carlo’s company and you quickly realise that although a trailblazing maverick in the built space his real passion is creativity in all it’s many forms.

This morning I came across a BBC News article about library closures. This took me back to a talk that I saw several years ago at SXSW about the importance of libraries as a social space where people from all different walks of life can serendipitously connect and the creative ideas that flow from such interactions.

Spaces where people connect are disappearing at an alarming rate. As well as libraries, a record number of public houses and bars are closing every year. Village halls and playing fields are being sold off. Old workspaces inside and outside of cities are making way for yet more housing development. And I get that we need more houses. But without any social spaces for people to congregate all we are creating are silos for people to sleep in, or bunkers for people to shield themselves from others. And that can’t be healthy.

When people distance themselves and interact solely through the barrier of a screen then groupthink and the suppression of alternate viewpoints run riot.

And creativity dies.

Humans need space. It is as important as air and water.

And just like fresh air and clean water, if we aren’t careful with our space we’ll find that we run out of it. When it’s too late.