With the great migration from offices and schools into home isolation, spaces that are designed to foster human connection can strengthen the relationships we as a species crave for growth. What are realistic spaces for bonding, learning, nurturing within our social pod? 

One answer is small gathering spots for focused time with a few people. That’s how our recently completed Playroom is used. Toddlers crawl around while their parents exchange advice. Kids have playdates. Tweens meet to work on school assignments. A parent and child enjoy one-to-one time.

A space for people to connect can be created anywhere there’s a little bit of room. In this case, it’s a 645 SF / 60SM leftover area on the common level of a multi-unit building. Residents are able to get out of their apartments during bouts of cabin fever without leaving the quarantine bubble of their home.

We re-envisioned the playroom by making the room the play object itself. In place of a plain interior filled with toys and supplies, there are built-in tunnels, climbable millwork platforms, curved walls with places to hide, recessed nooks - all as a foundation to spend connected time with others.

Inaba Williams has completed a series of early development spaces including a Brooklyn preschool similarly located in a leftover space.

As the commercial, retail, and residential landscapes reset now that the boring transactional stuff has moved online, there will be more chances to carve out spaces like this one dedicated to people interacting and growing through the relationships they build.