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From parks and libraries to pubs and schools, social infrastructures are the everyday places that bring people together, support community life, and foster connection. As interest in the concept grows, this timely and accessible edited collection offers a comprehensive overview of social infrastructure—its origins, development, and practical impact.
Packed with innovative case studies from the UK, Europe, Australia, and the US, it highlights how these shared spaces can shape urban life and wellbeing. Featuring contributions from leading scholars, the book provides a vital framework for understanding and researching places that support social connection in an increasingly fragmented world.
'Want to know more about social infrastructure? Look no further. This well-edited book introduces the concept, providing a helpful overview of its emergence and usage across the social sciences.' Kevin Ward, University of Manchester
'I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the evidence base on how to better foster connected communities everywhere.' Sarah Pearson, Sheffield Hallam University
'A welcome, constructive contribution to the debate on how to better support the shared spaces that bind our communities together.' Michael Kenny, University of Cambridge.
Alan Latham is Professor of Human Geography at University College London.
Jack Layton is Place Impact and Research Manager in the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation.
Part I: Introductions
1. Social Infrastructure in Neighbourhoods and Cities - Alan Latham and Jack Layton
2. Introducing the Concept of Social Infrastructure - Alan Latham and Jack Layton
Part II: The Spaces of Social Infrastructure
3. Public Libraries - Angelina Göb and Peter Dirksmeier
4. Parks - Liza Griffin and Kay Pallaris
5. Public Squares - Hannah Widmer
6. Schools - Beth Perry, Lee Crookes and Arbourthorne Writers
7. Coworking Spaces - Irene Manzini
8. Pubs, Cafes, Bars - Regan Koch and Alan Latham
9. Allotments - Liz Cox
Part III: The Social Life of Social Infrastructure
10. Civic Organising - Lindsay Campbell, Erika Svendsen, Michelle Johnson and Laura Landau
11. Pick-up Sports - David Trouille and Michael Deland
12. Social Networks - Alasdair Jones
13. Older People - Sophie Yarker
14. Youth Social Infrastructure - Luke Billingham
Part IV: Making Social Infrastructure
15. Play Streets - Alison Stenning
16. Designing Space for Teen Girls - Olivia Theocharides-Feldman and Julia King
17. Walkability of Streets - David Prytherch
18. The Making, Unmaking and Remaking of Social Infrastructure - Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros, Maeve Blackman, Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, Lucy Natarajan, Myfanwy Taylor and John Tomaney
Part V: Social Infrastructure and Public Issues
19. Responses to COVID-19 - Gesine Tuitjer, Leonie Tuitjer and Anna-Lisa Müller
20. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - Ersilia Verlinghieri, Asa Thomas, Rachel Aldred and Harrie Larrington-Spencer
21. Changing Use of Libraries - Salene Schloffel-Armstrong
22. Social Infrastructures After Disaster - David Conradson
23. Social Infrastructure and Policymaking - Owen Garling
Part VI: Conclusions
24. The Future of Social Infrastructure Research - Alan Latham and Jack Layton
25. Afterword - Eric Klinenberg and Matthew Wolfe