PERSONAL ESSAY

Today, our corner of the world is constantly expanding. As Marc Auge puts it in his book, ​Non-Places: an Introduction to Supermodernity, ​cities are continuously judged by their capacity to hold their own in global markets, interconnected travel and global exchange is becoming increasingly easier, and we are constantly able to connect to areas all around the world through our mobile devices. But, what does this increase in external connection mean for our connection to the everyday? To the smallest moments in life? To our own well-being? In his book, Auge argues how supermodernity has led to an expanding age of non-places; areas which have no distinct social ties or symbolization. In essence, a society where an over-connected global system has caused individuals to move through life in a realm of complacency, lacking intrinsic senses of connection in a world dominated by non-places. Supermodernity creates an opportunity for design to intervene: to bring thoughtfulness back into the design of non-places and to offer an area that allows people to slow down and connect to their sense of self. 

Within the scope of this project, a parking garage is seen as a non-place. It is a place of transition. Where one drives in, parks a car, and leaves. It has no meaning nor intrinsic connection to its users, it is simply a brief touchpoint that falls into the background of the user’s schedule for the day. But, what if a parking garage could be more than that? What if it could break through the speed and autopilot that shapes everyday life and offer moments of pause? What if a parking garage could elicit a meaningful experience for its users? 

As designers, we have the ability to create positive intentional impact in the everyday lives of our users. Within the realm of the parking garage, there is ample opportunity to rethink its inherent notions and transform it into a place that actively engages with the people that use it. To turn a once overlooked non-place into a place that facilitates joy, or community, or mindfulness brings intentionality back into everyday life. To care about seemingly unimportant spaces is to care about the things that make us who we are. How we move through life is what defines us; so how can we do so with purpose? And how can we make others around us feel supported in this quest? With redesigning an overlooked space into a thoughtful experience, we hope to facilitate movements of life that are intentional, that offer positive connections to a sense of self and to a community. 

We hope to transform parking garages from non-places into places. 

Through this project, we are aiming to break through the complacency that has led to the construction of the garage as a non-place and find the beauty that lies in creating a culture of care within the garage.