How Small Buildings Can Be a Catalyst for Vitality in Public Places

From Ice Cream Stands to Lobster Shacks and Market Huts:

Adding Small Buildings into an empty open space, a small plaza, or park sets up a potential trajectory into a cluster of a small center...then into a market or even a pleasure Garden

Big question: how do we define a "small building"? A market tent isn't but is a dining shed a building?

T.P. Note: I think this article has lost its focus. It used to be about the power of the small building in public places, and now it has become largely about markets, partly about waterfronts, and we have lost sight of the initial idea: the small building. Market tents and stands are not small buildings, so including those things dilutes our message. We can have a larger section about the places that sprout up around a catalytic small building, but I think this article would be strengthened with a tighter focus.

I put back the intro because the article felt unbalanced with no explanation of what a small building even means from our perspective.

Heart of communities Create a series of squares and plazas that create destinations in Delray and can serve as "hearts and soul" of the Delray community.

https://www.sociallifeproject.org/squares-are-the-hearts-of-communities-and-markets-their-soul/

The best public spaces have buildings right in the middle of them. This may sound counterintuitive, but if you look around, you'll find it's true. These buildings – usually compact, flexible structures that can support a variety of uses – are the anchors that pull a space together and act as its main focal points.

Victual market - a series of small sheds are lined up together to create a "Market Main Street"

These small structures can be called pavilions, kiosks, sheds, stalls, or even the less common term "summerhouses." When designed well and positioned in the right location, they can become a major catalyst for activity and may even lead to the development of a thriving square or market in their vicinity.

They can come in different shapes and styles, and because of their small size, they can be placed in a wide variety of locations, even a compact spot like the corner of an intersection. What they have in common is that they are not lightweight temporary structures like market tents or stands, nor are they deeply rooted, permanent edifices like apartment buildings. They are something in between – structures that add weight and presence to a place but that can be easily adapted to support whatever uses will elevate it.

Catalytic Impacts

One small building can become a focal point, then one can become two through reciprocal gestures, and eventually two can become several as more features pop up around it to feed off the new energy created. Out of one small building can be born a cluster of lively activity we call a "social hub" which can eventually turn into a market, square, or even a main street down the line as new additions feed into it.

Starting off as focal points

When the small structure is created with some aesthetic flair, it can become a beautiful focal point for the area, much like a fountain or a sculpture. In this way, it not only adds practical value but also visual interest and character that contributes to the lovability of the place. It draws people in with its offerings but also to take a photo and spend time in its vicinity absorbing its charm.

Because these structures are compact, they can be located anywhere that needs a burst of vitality. They are like seeds – wherever they are planted, public life can grow around them and thrive. Their catalytic impacts occur because of how they trigger changes to their vicinity that are driven by the foot traffic they attract.

When one small building becomes two – the case of the dueling lobster shacks...You get a HUB

At the entrance to the center of Wiscasset, Maine, sit two lobster shops. The buildings that house these businesses are modest structures. Like the shops at the Viktualienmarkt, the kiosks rely on public spaces like the sidewalk and outdoor spaces like a patio to create "waiting rooms" and open-air dining areas. This indoor-outdoor, public-private setup embeds the hungry guests into the fabric of the street's social life and creates a more engaging and dynamic experience that enriches the streetscape.

We see the beautiful Main St. unfold (left)

Ice Cream Shed and Gathering place

Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario (Near the Thousand Islands in New York State)

This great little ice cream cabin located on a green lawn with whimsical seating is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. While the parents eat their ice cream and chat, the kids can run and play.

Camden Maine

When it comes to activating public places in one fell swoop, the ice cream shop is king. Everybody enjoys a cold sweet treat, so wherever an ice cream shop stands, a crowd gathers. It is a surefire way to attract positive energy and wholesome activity to any part of town.

Triangulate different uses to create a cluster...here, even one building can have a "Ice Cream Shed" a Book Store and a Coffee Window distinctively place within it...on a street with seating

**The more, the merrier: A book store, coffee window, and a busy ice cream stand in Camden, Maine create a popular destination**.

Sheds can even be part of a bigger building!

Building blocks the collection becomes an important "hub" By adding a plaza/porch to hang out on...combining a Book Store, a Coffee Widow and an Ice Cream is a first, but could be a gang buster...who knows

Now all they need is a patio! A curb will do for now.

Camden, Maine Ice Cream shed that morphed into a major gathering place connecting back to Main Street

a link toa hotel and a path leading to the Library and Main Street

a Bridge as a destination as a link to

Riverhouse Hotel and flower bridge lead to River Ducks ice cream stand.

The Catalytic Power of the Small Building in Various Public Places

Munich's Viktualienmarkt

In Munich's Victuals Market, we see a great example of the small building in action. The green-roofed stalls there give the market presence and dimension, allowing it to offer a variety of goods and services in every weather condition. With a series of small sheds lined up, the market ends up having its own "main street" – busy with foot traffic and commercial activity – which can make it feel like the heart of the city.

Because the sheds are sturdier than market tents, they can withstand wind, rain, and cold, so the offerings of the market aren't dependent on the weather. On hot days, you can wind through the lanes and peruse the external displays. When a cold chill blows, you can walk deeper under the awnings of the buildings, or even go inside them for shelter, as you enjoy endless things to see, smell, and taste. Small buildings give a place resistance, flexibility, and durability.

While such buildings are small, they can be layered with canopies on all sides that allow for different businesses to create their own identities as they branch off the main structure. They can act as sites for temporary setups when there are market days, or coffee windows, small shops, and street food stands when there are not.

Small buildings punctuate Bassin de la Villette

Pop-ups along both sides of the Bassin de la Villette offer food and games in colorful settings which complements the wonderful variety of programming and temporary activations.

Bassin de la Villette - LQC (Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper) additions

London South Bank Market

Borough Market, Food Truck and Gabriel's Wharf

Supporting the local economy in Gabriel's Wharf

Gabriel's Wharf is a wonderful square and shopping area and an excellent example of Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper destination building. Transformed from a once empty lot, Gabriel's Wharf is now home to numerous vendors and cafes, an arts presence, and great gathering places. Its transformation was implemented in 1988 and kicked off over the span of only three months. It is incredible to see how such a short period of time led to a lasting example of a thriving waterfront destination.

Small businesses thrive

Small buildings are perfect to host local businesses and startups that may not have their feet firmly on the ground with a brick and mortar store yet. By allowing them a low-cost space to run out of, these structures give small business owners the opportunity to grown their customer base and expand their resources in order to level up. In this way, they stimulate the local economy and support entrepreneurship.

London Food Market Stalls

T.P. Note: The small buildings we're talking about aren't temporary structures, so I don't think this section fits.

South Bank Centre Food Market

Street food markets like the popular Southbank Centre Food Market bring so much vibrancy to this part of the waterfront, showcasing the amazing offerings of eateries from around this multicultural city and impressive culinary talent from around the world. People of every kind gather here, united by their love of delicious treats and trying new things.

Brooklyn - Urban Space Dekalb Market

Bryant Park Christmas Market

Urban Space Xmas Market Bryant Park

Take Aways

Incubators

One shed can become two sheds even an entire market as in the Victualing Market in Munich.

Sheds are sturdier than a market tent, allowing them to withstand wind, rain, and cold so the offerings of the public place aren't dependent on the weather.

They have strong walls for protection so vulnerable goods can be kept within.

they often have embedded infrastructure that allows for more diverse amenities like plumbing and heat which give people to access things like bathrooms and cooked food.

In these ways, such structures significantly expand the features that people can enjoy in a public space.

Takeaways

A defining feature of these small structures is that they are very well-integrated into their surroundings. They aren't fully closed off or separated from them, but rather weave into their place context through features like seating, order windows, and external displays of goods. In this way, they enhance the space far beyond their walls.

You don't know what you're going to end up with. These buildings are small catalysts. You don't need a plan, you can just start doing it. These allow the districts to be shaped by their communities in a way that the large designs or plans could never do.

Community Ownership

On its website, KulturKiosk even invited community members to participate in building the structure itself, stating: "The Culture Kiosk is real teamwork. It is being built in a joint, participatory process. This means: neighbors, residents, hobbyists, amateur craftswomen and professionals – everyone is invited to join in!" The process of building a place like this together with others is a fantastic way to get neighbors to meet each other, bond, and develop a sense of ownership and pride in the construction. This ensures it will be taken care of, maintained, and cherished.

This could be a link? Probably should be Kiosk Designs

For communities looking to benefit from the catalytic power of small buildings, the KulturKiosk website shares the specifics of their design. You can use these as inspiration to build your own community hub!

Other Resources:

Catalyzing vitality with small structures

It can be difficult to know where to start when trying to breathe life into a place that is underperforming and lacking appeal. The small structure is a simple, concrete approach to seeding a place with activity. From the lobster shack to the KulturKiosk, the small construction is the key that unlocks a place's potential and turns it into a hub of activity and vitality.