"Be a voice, not an echo," said Albert Einstein. And when it comes to making your mixed-use locations unique, the same principle applies. Be brave in your creations and lead the way in forming a community that people love and are proud to be a part of. Here are three easy steps to help you along.
Take a trip down memory lane
A location’s history should be the first chapter in your placemaking story. Take inspiration its heritage and adapt it for a modern context. As part of the emerging business district in the city of Chester at Muse Developments’ City Place, a Grade II listed rail shed has been brought back to life and transformed into an open-air events space. It’s a brilliant example of how to draw upon historical context - in this case the city’s industrial roots and transport history – and reimagine it for 21st century use. It’s now a fantastic and unique place to visit with the newly named ‘Carriage Shed’ used for regular artisan fairs and other events, from fashion shows to food festivals. Letting history shape your placemaking strategy gives you the opportunity to create a distinctive destination like no other.
people first
When spaces work well, they "serve as the stage for our public lives." That’s according to the Project for Public Spaces. With this in mind, always think ‘people first'. Absorb an area's culture, getting to grips with social habits, music, arts, religion, food and every aspect of life that make the local people unique. Your strategy can centre around this group of people - from the type of space they’d appreciate, to events they’d enjoy. As the basis of your placemaking, this approach means you’ll build inspirational and memorable places that are attractive to occupiers and visitors.
embrace the elements
Work with the elements. Is your building a sun trap? Build a beautiful rooftop garden. Plenty of natural light? Power your space through solar. Positioned by a picturesque river? Create a floating bar. When it comes to winter, it doesn’t have to mean going indoors either. Let people enjoy the outside space by creating covered markets and festivals. You can get outdoor heating to keep people cosy or even build an ice rink. By working with what you have to make it exciting and attractive, people will flock to be part of the buzz and activity.
This article gives a brief insight into how you can go about making mixed-use locations unique. There's a lot more detail in our ebook Effective Placemaking Communications For Your Mixed-Use Development, Volume 1: Explore, which you can download for free with just an email address.
