PLAY IN THE CITY

04.
We can understand place to be distinct from space by virtue of its
imbedded social value. By this logic we could interpret the ‘geographical
explosion of place’ as where the realm of the social is no longer solely
rooted in physical locations; it exists in, and is also distributed on, digital
platforms. In this stance the internet’s ability to co-locate communities,
bound by special interest or common identity, does not re-place the
value of physical places have but enrich them. Digital ‘spaces’ provide
alternate place for social connection without superseding the physical.
Let us consider where social activity is physically displaced. An example
of such social displacement can be seen as a repercussion of the current
re-generation of the London Suburb of Thamesmead. The estates on
Thamesmead were designed in with spaces for social practice, such as
the Social club at Tarvy Bridge (Figure 1).
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