The Architecture of GatheringDesigning Spaces That Bring People Together

Even when surrounded by nature—the rush of waves hitting rocks along the coastline or the whisper of delicate eucalyptus leaves in the wind—digital interactions often overshadow face-to-face connections. With so much of our lives spent online, physical spaces that foster human interaction are all the more important. Architects and designers are reimagining environments to encourage community, dialogue, and shared experiences. Let’s explore the philosophies and projects of leading figures who are shaping the architecture of togetherness—along the coast and beyond.​

Designing Public Spaces for Spontaneous Community Interaction

The essence of communal spaces lies in their ability to bring people together, facilitating interactions that might not occur otherwise. Architect Riken Yamamoto, recipient of the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, emphasizes the importance of integrating public engagement within architectural design.

According to AP News’ Jocelyn Noveck, Yamamoto has centered his career on “multiplying opportunities for people to meet spontaneously, through precise, rational design strategies.” His Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station features transparent facades, allowing the community to observe the inner workings of the station, thereby fostering a sense of connection and transparency.

Similarly, the Superkilen Park in Copenhagen, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group in collaboration with Topotek1 and Superflex, supports multicultural integration. The park incorporates artifacts and design elements from over 60 countries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the local community and creating a space where cultural narratives converge.

​Adaptive Reuse: Breathing New Life into Old Structures

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Transforming existing structures into communal hubs is a sustainable approach that preserves history while serving contemporary needs. In the Faroe Islands, the Eysturkommuna Town Hall, designed by Ósbjørn Jacobsen of Henning Larsen Architects, seamlessly blends into its natural surroundings. Built over a river with a grass-covered roof, it not only serves administrative functions but also provides a public space where citizens can gather, symbolizing a harmonious relationship between governance and the community. 

Quoted by Architectural Digest’s Katherine McGrath Jacobsen notes that “‘A central theme in traditional Faroese architecture is the blurred line between nature and building, the fact that the spectator has difficulties distinguishing where the landscape ends and the building begins…The primary conceptual idea behind the design of the town hall is driven by the notion of this fleeting line between landscape and building.’” 

Outside, the structure responds to its environment, but inside, it honors its people.​ The entire interior is democratized. As McGrath notes, “No one sits on the end or at the head of the table, and everyone meets on equal terms.”

The Joy of Unexpected Encounters in Urban Spaces

Incorporating elements of play into urban design can break down social barriers and encourage spontaneous interactions. The Urban Conga, a design studio based in Brooklyn, focuses on creating “Playable Cities” through interactive installations. Their project, “Ripple,” in Rochester, New York, is an ever-changing landmark that responds to the movements of passersby, inviting engagement and fostering community bonds. ​

Integrating Nature into Gathering Spaces

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Blending natural elements with architectural design enhances the sensory experience of communal spaces. Landscape architect Sara Zewde exemplifies this approach with her redesign of the landscape at Dia Beacon in New York. Her plan introduces sculptural landforms, meadowlands, and pathways that invite visitors to engage with the environment. Zewde’s design acknowledges the site’s history and prepares for its future, creating a space that encourages public interaction while being mindful of ecological sustainability.

Working with the site’s history as a brickyard and floodplain, Zewde shaped curving landforms that echo Lenape movement across the Hudson River while also acting as basins for stormwater. Over 130 trees and a mosaic of native grasses create a space meant for walking, gathering, and quiet reflection.

“There’s an opportunity to mobilize and provoke,” she told The New York Times. Her work suggests that even soft landscapes can hold firm meaning—inviting people not just to gather, but to connect with time, place, and one another.

Creating Togetherness in Private Spaces Surrounded by Nature

In the realm of coastal architecture, the design of gathering spaces within homes plays a pivotal role in fostering connections among inhabitants and harmonizing with the natural environment. Architects specializing in coastal residences are crafting spaces that not only encourage social interaction but also seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor living.​

Embracing the Landscape

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Walker Warner Architects exemplifies this philosophy with their project, Hale Mau’u, on Hawaii’s Big Island. This 5,000-square-foot retreat is composed of four distinct volumes connected by an ipe wood walkway that meanders through a landscaped courtyard. 

This design encourages movement and interaction among residents and guests, while also blurring the boundaries between interior spaces and the lush surroundings. The use of natural materials, including cypress ceilings and plaster walls, further enhances the relationship to the environment.

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Quoted by Will Speros for ​Architectural Digest, firm founder Greg Warner notes that “‘The somewhat unconventional layout of the buildings is in direct response to the site, intentionally designed and positioned to maximize views, privacy, and the weather…It creates a dynamic sense of layering and tension.’” Designer Catherine Kwong, owner of Catherine Kwong Design follows up, saying “‘It’s totally a house for hosting big family get-togethers and lots of people.’”

Clearly, this home is for connection.

Integrating Communal Areas

In Tasmania, architect Jamie McCutcheon designed ‘Atelier,’ a contemporary coastal home that serves as a hub for family gatherings. The residence features expansive, open-plan living areas that flow effortlessly onto spotted gum decks, offering panoramic views of Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards Mountain Range. This seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces provides ample room for communal activities, reinforcing the home’s role as a central gathering place. ​

Designing for Flexibility

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Tom Kundig’s beachfront residence in Bilgola Beach, Australia, showcases adaptable spaces that cater to both intimate family moments and larger social events. The home’s design incorporates movable screens and connecting bridges, allowing spaces to be reconfigured as needed. This flexibility ensures that the home can accommodate various social functions while maintaining a strong connection to the coastal landscape.

Crafting Intimate Spaces

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Herbst Architects, led by Nicola and Lance Herbst, are well-respected for their sensitive approach to coastal homes in New Zealand. Their designs often feature sheltered courtyards and verandas that provide intimate spaces for family gatherings, protected from the coastal elements. By utilizing natural materials like timber and stone, their homes resonate with the surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious environment for social interaction.

Tucked into the cliffs above Onetangi Beach, the Onetangi Cliff House by Herbst Architects is one such project. Named the 2025 Coastal Home of the Year, the residence reveals itself gradually—via a long, informal stairway flanked by outdoor showers and a sun-washed patio—before unfolding into a slender, exquisitely detailed structure that hugs the coastline. 

Despite its proximity to the bustle of The Strand, the home feels quietly removed, buffered by high balustrades and timber screening that provide privacy without sacrificing the ever-present view of the sea. Subtle architectural moves, like a skylit service stair treated as a sculptural light well, animate the interior with shifting shadows, while compact bedrooms open onto slim, balcony-like terraces that extend the living experience outward. “It is cosy and relaxed,” one owner shared, describing the sense of shelter the house offers even during stormy weather—a sanctuary that breathes with its coastal surroundings.

The Architecture of Gathering as Truss for the Human Soul

Just as a truss supports weight by distributing force across tension and compression, gathering spaces support us emotionally—bridging separation, reinforcing connection, and holding space for collective belonging. 

The architecture of gathering is structural, but it is also spiritual. It speaks to our longing for connection, our need for spaces that hold us, invite us in, and remind us that we belong. Whether among neighbors in a public plaza or family on a coastal veranda, these spaces don’t just bring people together—they help us become more fully ourselves.