[hackerspaces] distributed space?

[matt]

Resistor has recently experimented with operating a Heavy space.

It has been... lackluster.  And is basically considered a failure.

We wanted a space to operated bigger equipment... the problem is, the space
is a bit far from our primary space where we tend to all hang out.

And, a machine shop isn't something one should be working in alone.  So it
became something of a pre-scheduled big todo to use.  And as a result it
rarely saw use.  Also the train up on the equipment takes time, and getting
someone to train you is difficult.

In our case I think the biggest issue was that the space was so far from
where we congregated and that was exacerbated heavily by the nature of the
space and it's primary use case.

Ultimately I think you will have a problem with a distributed space
originating from diaspora effect on any community you attempt to cultivate.

People need to be together to cultivate a community.  So without a place to
congregate they will never do that, and what you'll end up with is
balkanized communities at best, and no communities at worst.

-Matt


On Mon, Jul 7, 2014 at 2:50 PM, Brett Dikeman <brett.dikeman at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I live in a neighborhood in Boston where there's about zero space
> available. Problems: many rentable spaces are ludicrously expensive to
> the point where the financial models don't work, or they're way too
> large to launch without it being a really big, expensive gamble. There
> is very little non-retail commercial space; even less industrial
> space.
>
> Also, as noted in other discussions, a lot of potential uses aren't
> compatible without good isolation from each other (metalworking,
> woodworking, electronics, coding, etc.)
>
> It occurred to me that there could be different spaces around the
> neighborhood that are all part of the same organization/community.
> Only for the sake of clarification of the larger concept (I don't want
> to get bogged down in nitpicking around these specific examples):
> maybe someone has a detached garage that they're OK with people doing
> metalworking in, we're able to find a one-room office good for
> electronics/coding/administration, the local craft shop wouldn't mind
> donating or sub-leasing a back office or some space in their basement
> for textile work, etc.
>
> Are there any groups who have tried this, successfully or not? My
> immediate thought it is that there's need to be a strong focus on
> community building to make up for the lack of one common room/space
> (such as providing tools for people to share/see what others in the
> group are working on, rotating a regular community meeting through the
> different spaces, encouraging each space's users to host "open house"
> sessions, etc.)
>
> Thanks for your thoughts!
> Brett
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>
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