Civic facilities such as libraries, social clubs and sport centres are more than just utilitarian areas – they increasingly act both as service and venue nodes for a variety of cultural activities. This first volume in a new series of A+T examines different kinds of public buildings and programmes produced over recent years that embrace a new focus on social interaction.

Civic facilities such as libraries, social clubs and sport centres are more than just utilitarian areas – they increasingly act both as service and venue nodes for a variety of cultural activities. This first volume in a new series of A+T examines different kinds of public buildings and programmes produced over recent years that embrace a new focus on social interaction.