Hub

Community. Culture. Commerce. A modern third place.

Vision TL;DR

A new type of community space, fitting the needs of the modern lifestyle (remote & gig work, increased loneliness, niche interests, health & wellness-aware consumers...)

A public place for people to play, work, and connect

Filling the gap between a library (government owned) and a mall (strictly commercial)

Every Hub is an architecture statement, reflecting its environment, designed by regional architects and with community involvement.

Environment: Natural light. Safe. Vibrant. Creative. Including: Work space. Builder space. Cafes. Healthy food stalls. Books. Events.

Multigenerational

PPP (public-private partnership) or PPCP (public-private-community partnership) model

A layer of community buy-in through co-design, voting, recognition of contribution, privileged access or loyalty programs.

The space is utilized during the night - Providing affordable housing units for an affordable cost or in exchange for operating the venue

What success looks like: Google Maps adds “Hub” as a venue category among Cafe, Restaurant, Library, and Mall.

Problem

Vacated downtown malls and storefronts

Lack of foot traffic and commerce

Drop in downtown real estate value

Remote work isolation

Lack of public spaces

Low chance for serendipitous encounters

Opportunity

There's a growing demand of city dwellers, as well as visitors, to:

Work remotely outside of their home or hotel

Connect with like-minded people and interest-based communities

Enjoy their free time in a public space that offers opportunities to relax and enjoy culture

This opens an opportunity for a new category of real estate, positioned between government-funded public spaces (libraries, parks...) on one side, and strictly commercial real estate (malls, offices...) on the other.

Filling in this immediate gap aligns with the long-term benefits of the city, making it a more attractive place for life, work, business and tourism.

In addition

The space can be utilized during the night - Providing a free “hostel”-like experience for contributors in exchange for contributing time to Hub’s operations.

Over time, the Hun might generate UBI for all contributions of the ecosystem.

Solution: Hub - A modern third place

Offers

Work & build spaces: Desks, studios, and meeting rooms to collaboration and productivity.

Social routing: Matching individuals with similar interests for workshops, activities, and co-working sessions.

Healthy food & beverage: Cafes and stalls with fresh, local options.

Curation & events: Host workshops, talks, and social gatherings based on community needs and interests.

Environment

Architecturally stunning: Each Hub, designed by regional architects with community input, will be a unique architectural statement that reflects its environment.

Light & nature: Open floor plans, natural light, and outdoor spaces to promote well-being and creativity.

Safe & vibrant: A welcoming atmosphere with a focus on inclusivity and community interaction.

Structure & financing

PPP/PPCP model: Collaboration between government, private sector and the community stakeholders.

Community integration: Exploring innovative stakeholder involvement with web3 community ownership, member access, voting, or financing.

Definition of success

When "Hub" joins "Cafe," "Restaurant," and "Library" on Google Maps, we'll know we've created a space that redefines modern community.

The Hub is not just a building – it's a movement to revitalize cities and reconnect people through shared interests, culture, and a sense of belonging.

MVPs

Connect with stakeholders (real estate actors, city officials and advocates, grassroots third space movements) - to validate problem and vision hypothesis

Clarify possibilities of the PPCP model (financing, legal, governance...) with experts in the field

Validate demand

Research and discuss with experts

Start a “Social Routing Hub”, serving as a physical point where people can explore likeminded interest communities and maker groups in San Francisco

References

Future of downtown real estate

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California malls as we know them are dying. Here's what comes next.⁠

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Third spaces

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Eudamonia machine

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Loneliness

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Example trend of “community malls” and “cultural department stores”

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Loading www.designboom.com⁠

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Loading www.vmdo.com⁠

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https://www.dokk1.dk/english⁠

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Programming

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18 Network Of Learning⁠

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Other

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Housing Co-ops | California Center for Cooperative Development⁠

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Steward-ownership is capitalism 2.0⁠

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On what matters⁠

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“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” – Borges

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Hub