Cooperative Clusters: Correlating place-making and group actualization

200 West Pike Street,Covington KY 41011

27 October, 2022

Description

If you’ve ever played the Sims, you know that three of the main needs that need to be maintained are: environment, fun, and social. Real people, and your Sims, require a delicate balance of being engaged in their environment, with frequent social interactions, and fun. These needs are true throughout your whole life. When you’re younger, you might have an easier time making and maintaining friends because you’re stuck with the same people every single day at school. As you get older though, you have to maintain those friendships with the rest of life happening around you; this may be easier in the urban core – when you can walk down to the corner pub and grab a beer or dinner with a friend (in a third space). Even later in life you might need a retirement community, and those relationships are even harder still to maintain because of the innate purpose of those communities, built to create a sense of independence – can actually lead to feelings of isolation instead. The feelings of loneliness brought on by your environment can lead to a different perception of trust, dignity and self-worth. Humans are, by nature, cooperative creatures, equipped with an instinct to form and sustain reciprocal relationships with those around them. However, to do so requires the ability to find trusting partners with frequent exchange rates – something many suburban and urban developments don’t acknowledge. In many ways, the way in which we have planned and designed communities have hinged on our instinct to confuse “isolation” with “independence. As our ability to cooperate with others is systematically reduced by the environments in which we live, so is our perceptions of trust, meaning, dignity, and self-worth. With the current development of the largest urban parcel in the nation occurring in Covington, we thought it would be a good time to invite our friend Zach Benedict in to talk about community and the importance of cooperative clusters. This presentation will offer a discussion around the impact engagement and self-worth can have on effective place-making. More specifically, it will provide clear strategies outlining how the design and operation of the built environment can have a direct impact on our quality of life. By utilizing theories rooted in evolutionary biology and urban sociology, this presentation will focus on the negative impacts of loneliness and the importance of having a sense of belonging across our lifespan. About the Speaker - Zach has dedicated his career to understanding the connection between people and places. As the managing principal at MKM architecture + design, he manages numerous projects ranging from critical access hospitals to public libraries. With an extensive background in urban sociology, he is considered one of the leading voices in the "Lifetime Community" movement, focusing on the socioeconomic benefits of age-friendly neighborhoods. Through these efforts, coupled with an appreciation towards the likes of Wendell Berry and Monty Python (he’s like a lost brother), he has lectured internationally on various topics, encouraging communities to reevaluate the importance of inclusive place-making. In 2015 the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded him with the Young Architect Award in recognition of his work. Additionally, Ball State (there must be something in the water) University's College of Architecture and Planning Alumni Society recognized him with the Alumni Award of Outstanding Achievement - he is the youngest individual to ever receive this award. This is a presentation you won’t want to miss. Our second installment of HW presents. Open house starting at 4p with drinks and snacks, the lecture will start at 5:30. Please join us in the second of our series of guest lectures.