My Vision within Sligo Gaol is to create a space where people can find a new experience waiting for them, be it a local, or a traveler or business person. The main goal I kept in mind was to enrich the users experience, providing a space where they can interact with others. One of the main theories that I kept in mind throughout my design was Dak Kopec’s Philosophy for improving the experience of users in hospitality environments. This includes many different methods, including breaking up the long stretch of hallways i.e. using small lounges areas to allow a guest to count down to their room, to ensure that the experience felt like a home away from home. This also includes making sure the space is clearly signposted and the users feel confident and secure, in knowing where they are going. I wanted to expand on this, which is where the concept of “The Hive” came from. The “Hive” represents a Network, or a community of people. In my design I carried this concept throughout, and created a space where people can form a community of tourists, business people and the local community. Treating a space designed for a community was a challenge, as I had to take a step back and look at what makes a community, and the answer, at its core, is a lot simpler than it seems. Individuals. Without individuals, there would be no interactions, no amenities, or food services, which are all necessary to build a community. Now that we know that we need individuals for the space to work, what do the individuals need? For this, I researched Maslow ’s Hierarchy of Needs, and used that as a base whilst designing different areas of the space, as well as keeping Dak Kopec’s research and writings in mind. Relating back to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the theory states that if we follow a hierarchy of needs, a person will be able to reach self-actualisation, or the best version of themselves, which in turn helps the individual to give back to the community. From an individual, they can network with those around them in order to create a community, where a number of interactions take place between multiple people, multiple times over the course of a short or long time period. I really wanted to hone in on that aspect of my design, and create a space that facilitates multiple free flowing interactions at the same time; thus how the Co — working space was created, a place where many individuals of different backgrounds can come together to work on projects, in space that does not seclude anyone for working alone or in a team.
