Reflecting on the history of community spaces and how they have evolved over time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, two main types of community spaces existed: village halls and church halls. Village halls were neutral spaces for community events run by a local group, while church halls had a moralistic and ideological focus and were more restricted by the attitudes of the church.
The rise of community centres, in the mid-20th century, were driven by ideas of social justice and community empowerment. However, these centres later became commercialized and bureaucratized, losing their focus on community empowerment. In the 21st century, we need to “reboot” the older ideas of community spaces, such as the village hall, to better reflect the different needs and values of contemporary society.