Transforming spaces. Connecting people.
"Serendipity is not an accident" - Neil McInroy
MSP Frequently Asked Questions
Greetings, friend! You're here because you're curious, right? About spaces and places or what we do, perhaps? We've thrown a short list of questions here that we think might be at the top of your head, so read on and let us know if we've missed something you'd like answered!
General Info
What is the McGill Spaces Project (MSP)?
The McGill Spaces Project is a student-led initiative that seeks to reimagine spaces on campus through creative placemaking and cross-campus collaboration. Our long-term goals are all about optimizing the potential of underused space on McGill's downtown campus.
What do we do?
The MSP works towards our goals in a multi-pronged fashion. Our past, present, and future projects consist of three streams; check them out here:
III. Learning & Research (ASR)
(Sometimes it may be easier to say we just throw events and do campus space interventions, but we assure you it's much more than that!)
Who are we?
We're a group of McGill students and staff passionate about urban design and sustainability, but anyone and everyone is welcome to join our weekly meetings.
Who are we inspired by?
Here at the MSP, our jaws are always dropping at inspiring spaces, places, and exhibits all around the world. Check out some of our favorite spaces/design-happy organizations here and get excited!
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Project for Public Spaces (PPS) - the "central hub of the global Placemaking movement"
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Hong Kong Public Space Initiative (HKPSI) - an organization similar to the MSP in spirit
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University of Calgary's Take your Place Initiative
I want to get involved. Tell me how.
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Come to a weekly meeting and say hi! New faces and ideas are always welcome; we can't strengthen our community without you! We meet @ _location_ every _weekday_ at _time_ (to be announced for the new semester)!
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Join us at one of our many events! Check this active page out for details on upcoming events.
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Have a research interest in spaces and places? Get in touch with us and we'll work with you to find the people you need to talk to.
How can I contact y'all?
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Don't be a stranger! If you've got something exciting to tell us about, have questions, or anything else, feel free to email us at mcgillspacesproject@gmail.com OR send us something from our "Contact Us" Page.
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As we mentioned above, we'd also love to meet you in person so come join us at a meeting or event too if you can make one!
Placemaking
What is placemaking?
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First and foremost, placemaking is concerned with people. Individuals are the lifeblood of both communities and the physical spaces they navigate. It's the gathering of people and the resulting spontaneity of interactions and experiences that creates a sense of vibrancy characteristic of great public spaces. For this reason, the placemaking movement is a "by and for" process.
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By supporting these interactions, physical spaces serve as the heart of every community. People-friendly spaces are easily taken for granted, but we notice it most when a space actively hinders fun and activities. Indeed, "serendipity is not an accident", and it's placemaking that sets the stage.
Why is it important?
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Placemaking at McGill is important for two reasons.
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By utilizing the novel and creative, the MSP seeks to create places that spark a collective sense of curiosity amongst members in the community. Placemaking creates reasons for people to come together and share their ideas and company. Think: Have you ever had difficulty approaching a staff member, professor, or administration just to chat? Conversations and collaborations are quintessential to the growth of every community. That's why it's important to create the spaces needed to support these interactions.
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The expansion of our physical campus is limited because McGill University is situated downtown. For this reason, it's valuable to learn how to optimize the space McGill's downtown campus already enjoys and make the most of it!
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Also, placemaking is really cool, and that's important too.
What are characteristics of a great place?
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The Project for Public Spaces' (PPS) COLORFUL Place Diagram is a great place (hehe) to start when looking at what makes great spaces. The characteristics were boiled down through a process of looking at and comparing thousands of global public spaces. These include:
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Sociability
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Access & Linkages
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Comfort & Image
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Uses & Activities
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Each of these key attributes has both intuitive qualities as well as measureable elements that are said to make a better place.
What's the difference between places and spaces?
You: Wait, there's a difference?
Us: Yes! Of course!
Think of the difference between "out of place" and "out of space":
"It is a sense of place, not space, that makes it appropriate to dance [at a concert, but not at a formal dinner], to be naked in the bedroom, but not in the street, and to sit at our windows, peering out, rather than at other people's windows, peering in. " - [source]
The sense of place transforms the space!
In a drier, vacumn-packed explanation:
"Spaces" and "places" may rhyme, but there are key concepts that set the two apart. The most important distinction is that:
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Spaces are merely physical areas, whereas
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Places are spaces that have been given value and meaning by any individual and/or community.
This discrepancy is similar to the difference between a "house" and a "home". A house serves to keep us sheltered and warm, but homes are places of belonging.
BONUS: What is topophilia?
Noun - Having an affection for place (Yi Fu Tuan, 1999)
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the love of or emotional connections with place or physical environment