A framework to spur social infrastructure
Social infrastructure is a combination of the physical spaces and social networks that define one’s public realm. The degree of social infrastructure we each experience can help or hinder our access to community, our sense of belonging, and the opportunities a city offers.
Gehl, together with Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Reimagining the Civic Commons, and Washington Housing Conservancy conducted three learning exchanges to Belfast, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo to uncover what social infrastructure looks like in action.
Through site visits and interviews, Gehl developed a framework for supporting a complete social infrastructure network, with: havens (spaces to gather around shared identity); hubs (spaces to connect across different backgrounds); and hangouts (spaces to just be). The framework defines key moves and considerations to spur social infrastructure, highlighting the need for further funding, diverse programming, and cross-sector coordination.
Gehl’s findings reveal that social infrastructure is essential for the health and well-being of societies. When done right, it does more than building relationships alone, it advances economic opportunities, climate resilience, and social and racial justice within communities.
