As retail uses shrink in our town centres and empty spaces open up, what could you do to create social spaces that bring new people in? This presentation, produced for Architecture + Design Scotland, shows some of the things people are already beginning to do. See my other presentations on high streets for the wider thinking behind this.

1. 20 things you
could do in the
high street
without shopping

2. 1
make it a canvas

3. 2
celebrate local
talent

4. 3
hold a festival

5. 4
tell a story

6. 5
make space to
play

7. 6
explore your
history

8. 7
green your public
space

9. 8
turn waste into
opportunity

10. 9
meet someone
new

11. 10
find a space to
work

12. 11
learn a new skill

13. 12
make something
original

14. 13
freecycle your
clutter

15. 14
make space to
protest

16. 15
rediscover the
agora

17. 16
plan your town
centre

18. 17
find somewhere
to live

19. 18
put perennials in
the potholes

20. 19
occupy empty
spaces

21. 20
watch the world
go by

22. ‘High streets and town centres that
are fit for the 21st century need to
be multifunctional social centres,
not simply competitors for
stretched consumers. They must
offer irresistible opportunities and
experiences that do not exist
elsewhere, are rooted in the
interests and needs of local people,
and will meet the demands of a
rapidly changing world.’

23. Find out more
Download our 21st Century Agora
paper
See other presentations on
Slideshare
Check out the Revive Our Town
Centres forum
Read ‘seven steps from ghost town
to host town’

24. pictur cr dits
1 Heather Cowper/ heatheronhertravels.com
2 IrenicRhonda
3 Robin Byles
4 Graphic Reality
5 David Elliott
8 Jasper Nance
9 Dan/ bhamsandwich
10 Ed Yourdon
11 Toban Black
12 Amber Karnes
13 Shazz Mack
14 Krawallmadchen
15 Howard Lake - www.flickr.com/photos/howardlake/
16 chatsworthroade5.co.uk
17 @monkeybanjo
18 the pothole gardener
19 Keith Bloomfield
20 Ed Yourdon

25. thank you
more from me...
www.urbanpollinators.co.uk
my blog: Living with Rats
Twitter: @juliandobson