Open space

An open space or open space (from the English) is the concept of a self-organized, autonomous activity field in the enclosed space in which there should be no restrictions on the use, if possible.

concept

The “Open University BerlinS”, an open space for education

According to this concept , an open space should be an office , seminar house , shared apartment , workshop or place for meetings and conferences and be open to all people who want to use it for work (for work rooms) or for living (for living rooms). Conflicts of interest with other users who want to use the room or the work equipment in it at the same time should be resolved through direct agreements . A room and its equipment is then open, i.e. usable for all interested parties with equal rights, if there are no practical or theoretical restrictions. Ideally, access to the options for action should not be restricted by locked doors or instructions from others, or by computer passwords or knowledge barriers that exclude individuals from using the open space and its parts. This applies to installed technology, knowledge and options for action as well as to the rooms themselves. Ensuring the greatest possible transparency is also of great importance.

The idea of ​​open space requires the greatest possible willingness to communicate on the part of all those involved, since information about plans that go beyond the mere use of the space should be exchanged with other users in order to be able to respond to objections and criticism and to enable participation.

background

“ Metalab ” in Vienna ; open space for free knowledge exchange and collaboration

The concept emerged in the 1980s as a conference method (unconference). The idea was driven by the social forums , which were originally conceived as open spaces in the Charter of Principles of Porto Alegre , but were actually shaped by the dominance of well-organized groups such as the large NGOs . The open space is intended to dismantle the logic of ownership and hierarchies in the sense of extended criticism and enable interested persons to use the space at their own discretion. The concept was transferred from the libertarian and open source movement to built-up, permanent spaces. The aim is to create places where as many people as possible are welcome and can use all available resources equally, which everyone can help shape and in which there are no institutionalized decision-making assemblies or leaders who have to be asked for permission.

Other uses

“Open space” continues to be used synonymously for the vacuum of space in order to move from closed spaces in space to e.g. B. to be distinguished in space stations .

See also

• Project workshop

Web links

• Open rooms Text of the Saasen project workshop (PDF file; 5.62 MB)
• Open systems as a cultural break in a regulated society in Contraste 2006
• Open rooms available online (PDF; 15.8 MB) . SeitenHieb-Verlag , Reiskirchen 2014. ISBN 978-3-86747-067-4

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Trial of an open space in Erfurt (PDF; 896 kB)
2. ↑ Networking site for open spaces
3. ↑ Interview with Harrison Owen ( Memento from January 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ weltsozialforum.org: Charter of Principles
5. ^ Minutes of a meeting of the project room ( Memento from February 26, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
6. ↑ Throw away the key ( memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
7. ↑ Example “open space” as “space” at the end of the text