I am not sure why but I have been asked to attend a potential university Living Labs meeting tomorrow.

• What would a living lab for digital humanities look like?
• What sort of facilities would help?
• What type of environment would aid creativity and cope with dynamic researcher and visitor flows?

I think of not just architecture offices and theatres but also the Curtin Library Makerspace, the HIVE, the lecture rooms and computer labs and airport-lounge the Library is mutating into and think…

1. The really creative lab spaces you want to make your own and there are unique spaces but the boundaries overflow into other spaces and other disciplines (I am thinking of Umeå’s digital humanities lab I visited in 2012 or 2013).
2. They have views (visionary or otherwise) and perches and breakout spaces.
3. There are PCs and whiteboards but also spaces to spread out prototypes to work in small groups…
4. Plants.
5. The transition between seated and standing space is gradual.
6. Spaces to play music (I mean play).
7. Design and test spaces can turn quickly into test and perform and critique spaces.
8. You can walk around tables and other workspaces.
9. It can be completely dark or gradually so.
10. The screens (if any) are merged thematically into their surrounds or completely separated and portable/reconfigurable.
11. There is one thematic oooh wow space that can be hidden/partitioned out of the way.
12. Foot traffic does not have to interrupt the workers.
13. There is a big big door to bring in and take out “stuff”.

I recall how inspired I was visiting the Aalto’s home and office in Munkkiniemi Helsinki, and also their living lab/cottage, experimental house, in Muuratsalo, (which you can visit in an Unreal game engine mod, if only I can find it again).

Actually, this meeting will no doubt be about equipment and power sources and data servers. And I’d have quite a bit to say on how I would have changed / extended our current lab.

But I can dream, Mr Aalto, upon your drawing table in the photo above, I can dream!

(And no, a Living Lab is not to be confused with a Library Lab. Or should it?)