Space: Socio-spatial Patterns Activating Communal Engagement

Project introduction and background information

Space is a research project that investigates how communal meeting spaces in social housing can be activated to foster social interaction, wellbeing and early identification of social needs—particularly for older and vulnerable residents.

Grounded in social interaction theory and the socio-ecological model, the project examines the spatial, organisational and behavioural conditions shaping use and engagement. Sixteen communal spaces in and around Nijmegen were studied using a mixed-methods approach: contextual analysis, environmental observation, and interviews with users and non-users.

The research identifies four typologies of communal space: Activity nexus, Communal living room, Chatterbox café, and Neighbourhood nest. Each typology supports different forms of interaction and community bonding. Co-creative sessions with residents and professionals led to targeted interventions, including smart furniture prototypes such as an interactive conversation table.

Although the interventions are currently being piloted, preliminary insights indicate that design alone is not sufficient: issues such as threshold fear, fixed group dynamics, and limited accessibility remain key challenges.