How a corrections officer challenged us to unthink community in retirement villages.
How a corrections officer challenged us to unthink community in retirement villages.
How a corrections officer challenged us to unthink community in retirement villages.
Can you ever really design a community?
Can you ever really design a community?
2 mins, August 13, 2025
2 mins, August 13, 2025
Can you ever really design a community?
2 mins, August 13, 2025
THE TRAP:
THE TRAP:
THE TRAP:
The more self-sufficient a new-build community is, the happier it's residents will be.
The more self-sufficient a new-build community is, the happier it's residents will be.
The more self-sufficient a new-build community is, the happier it's residents will be.
In typical retirement villages, there's a strong focus on fostering community through resident-only activities. They build internal programs, spaces and social calendars that prioritise togetherness within the physical (and secure) bounds of the village.
In typical retirement villages, there's a strong focus on fostering community through resident-only activities. They build internal programs, spaces and social calendars that prioritise togetherness within the physical (and secure) bounds of the village.
In typical retirement villages, there's a strong focus on fostering community through resident-only activities. They build internal programs, spaces and social calendars that prioritise togetherness within the physical (and secure) bounds of the village.
CORRECTIONS OFFICER REFRAME:
CORRECTIONS OFFICER REFRAME:
CORRECTIONS OFFICER REFRAME:
There are 97 definitions of community - it's not one size fits all.
There are 97 definitions of community - it's not one size fits all.
There are 97 definitions of community - it's not one size fits all.
"Moving somewhere without outside connections will lead to isolation. Even people in extreme conditions, like people experiencing homelessness, often stay where they have community. Stronger communities are those with multiple ties and connections to the neighbourhood around them."
"Moving somewhere without outside connections will lead to isolation. Even people in extreme conditions, like people experiencing homelessness, often stay where they have community. Stronger communities are those with multiple ties and connections to the neighbourhood around them."
"Moving somewhere without outside connections will lead to isolation. Even people in extreme conditions, like people experiencing homelessness, often stay where they have community. Stronger communities are those with multiple ties and connections to the neighbourhood around them."
General corrections and support rehabilitation practice emphasises the importance of placing people in established suburbs - near shops, parks, community centres and bus stops - so that not only could they see life happening around them, but feel they could be a part of it.
General corrections and support rehabilitation practice emphasises the importance of placing people in established suburbs - near shops, parks, community centres and bus stops - so that not only could they see life happening around them, but feel they could be a part of it.
General corrections and support rehabilitation practice emphasises the importance of placing people in established suburbs - near shops, parks, community centres and bus stops - so that not only could they see life happening around them, but feel they could be a part of it.
THE TAKEAWAY:
THE TAKEAWAY:
THE TAKEAWAY:
Don't seek to design a complete community, foster connections that inspire one to grow organically.
Don't seek to design a complete community, foster connections that inspire one to grow organically.
Don't seek to design a complete community, foster connections that inspire one to grow organically.
Instead of designing for a purely internal, self-sufficient community, what if we acted as a connector to the outside people, groups and experiences?
Instead of designing for a purely internal, self-sufficient community, what if we acted as a connector to the outside people, groups and experiences?
Instead of designing for a purely internal, self-sufficient community, what if we acted as a connector to the outside people, groups and experiences?
HOW MIGHT WE:
HOW MIGHT WE:
HOW MIGHT WE:
design to maintain people's pre-existing connections?
invite the outside world in through activities, spaces or partnerships?
embed our community as an integral part of the surrounding suburbs?
design to maintain people's pre-existing connections?
invite the outside world in through activities, spaces or partnerships?
embed our community as an integral part of the surrounding suburbs?
design to maintain people's pre-existing connections?
invite the outside world in through activities, spaces or partnerships?
embed our community as an integral part of the surrounding suburbs?