We recently opened our new central city public library building, Tūranga.
It’s pretty awesome.
Our city’s pretty flat, and there’s not many tall buildings, so you can see a long way from the top floor.
There’s a ground floor cafe that serves all-day fried chicken burgers. And a Red IPA.
There’s essentially an entire floor devoted to children’ spaces. It includes a slide and nooks an crannies you can hide away in and read a book. The Health and Safety people must go nuts.
And there’s the usual things you’d expect in a modern library: Books, wifi, computers etc. But the most awesome thing is the people.
Every time I’ve been there (and it’s a few times now. Did I mention it’s awesome?) there’s been heaps of people. All sorts of people. Doing all sorts of things.
Public spaces can make places feel public. Make the public feel like it’s ours. Like we’re allowed to be somewhere other than just our own houses. And that this spaces, this place, is Ours, collectively.
Here’s to great public spaces making places great for the public.