Thinking About the Future Dome as a Palace For The People
In the introduction to his book Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg defines social infrastructure as "the physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact."
Chapter headings of Palaces for the People can be read as thematic guideposts for thinking about the Dome's potential:
More from the introduction:
"Building places where all kinds of people can gather is the best way to repair the fractured societies we live in today...
...When social infrastructure is robust, it fosters contact, mutual support, and collaboration...
...The Mexican zócalo, the Spanish plaza (or pla?a, in Barcelona), and the Italian piazza serve the same function..."
...It's long been understood that social cohesion develops though repeated human interaction and joint participation in shared projects...
...Epidemiologists have firmly established the relationship between social connections, health, and longevity..."
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From "A Place to Gather," Chapter 1 of Palaces for the People
"...Social infrastructure provides the setting and context for social participation...
...As a large body of scientific research now shows, social isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous as more publicized health hazards, including obesity and smoking. But some places have the power to bring us together...
...places for culture and companionship, through book clubs, movie nights, sewing circles, and classes in art, music, current events, and computing....
...As meaningful as the friendships we establish online can be, most of us are unsatisfied with virtual ties that never develop into face-to-face relationships. Building real connections requires a shared physical environment..."
Klinenberg is writing mostly about public libraries, but every bit of this can be applied to the Future Dome, especially if a new Harris County Public Library branch (on steroids!) can be housed in the building. Even more especially if the Conservancy and HCPL take the Dome's unique status and location as an opportunity to partner with the Houston Public Library system, and with the county's own Education Department, and with HLSR.
-- Chris Alexander for Astrodome Tomorrow