The win-win power of community
You will probably have noticed that there’s a new word on the block and that word is: ‘community’. Of course it’s not a new word at all, but it is being bandied around in urban regeneration/development circles with increasing frequency and vigour. While words regularly go in and out of fashion, I think it’s important to understand the essence of a modern interpretation of community, particularly from a real estate perspective, focused on the creation of community buildings.
If we can see ourselves as facilitators of spaces that allow human linkages to develop and thrive, then we are almost certainly going in the right direction. As people become invested in their communities they generate a positive pull that increases demand for those areas.
Let’s start with community itself. Fundamentally, community is based on human linkages, which are driven by common needs and wants. A core P-THREE tenet is ‘people first’ and, in the case of community, I think being clear about what makes people tick, their aspirations and their concerns, is crucial to developing out thriving places.
I’m particularly concerned when I hear people talk about ‘building’ community in the same way they might construct a commercial property. It might sound obvious, but people aren’t bricks and mortar. Human linkages evolve organically. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be influenced in positive ways. I very much believe it’s possible to encourage people to come together in particular pre-specified directions.
And if we look at some of the original types of community buildings, such as places of worship, pubs and markets, we can see how physical structures have played an important part in bringing cohesiveness to their local communities. Contemporary community buildings, if they are seen as an integral part of mixed use developments, can definitely play a similar role if those doing the building are clear about the people they are building for.
I can’t emphasise enough how crucial this is.
The rise of BTR property as part of our urban fabric is bringing together groups of people who potentially could have a long-standing investment in places which they will call home. At the same time, developers are being encouraged to think in much more depth about how they can meet occupational needs through ESG-led initiatives.
When it comes to community buildings, I believe we are beginning to see a fundamental shift in conceptual approach. The question is moving away from ‘do we build an F-Hub, sports hall or theatre?’ to ‘what is it that the people we’re building for want/need?’
If we can see ourselves as facilitators of spaces that allow human linkages to develop and thrive, then we are almost certainly going in the right direction. As people become invested in their communities they generate a positive pull that increases demand for those areas.
For me, the ‘secret’ in providing community buildings that are well patronised and positively adopted by the people who use them starts with one-to-one conversations. Fortunately, the property sector is innately adept at communicating, so, as long as we approach every human interaction with a willingness to listen and learn, success shouldn’t be far behind. After all, cohesive, thriving, communities enhance the value of the real estate they occupy – a true win-win situation.
Three examples of successful community buildings in Greater London:
* Nourish Hub, Hammersmith & Fulham
Article by Thomas Rose, Co-founder P-THREE
Photo credits: Nourish Hub
