Page 53 - Black group Booklet

Many examples of such centers
can be found around the world to-

day. They are often designed in an
attractive and modern way, and
provide a variety of facilities, from
gyms to art galleries and libraries.
Ouston Community Centre in the
UK, for example, was established
to meet the community’s needs.
All activities events and activities
are communicated through their
website. Also NieuwLand in Am-
sterdam organizes activities for the
neighbourhood, as well as provi-

des space for people who want to
organize their own activity, such as
a cooking event, a movie night or a
temporary hair salon.

Most of the spaces for common ac-
tivities are situated on the ground
floor and are accessible from

the garden side. Other floors are
mainly for living. The greenery
in the backyard is beautiful in its
simplicity, which communicates
a certain degree of welcomeness.
Too beautiful or neat could create
an unecessary threshold. The gar-
den further includes a continuous
walking path, spaces for playing
and spaces for gathering, by the
bar or inside the ‘amphitheatre’:
an oval shaped level difference in

the middle of the garden. This can
also be a location for spectacles to
take place, or educational activities
when the weather allows.

53