Beyond retail: reimagining town centres for connection and belonging

By Aaron the Humanist

In this month’s exploration of the future of our town centres, Aaron shares a bold and human-centred vision of what they could become. He invites us to reimagine our civic spaces — one where connection, belonging and purpose take priority over retail activity. Aaron’s writing often reflects a deep optimism about humanity’s potential, and in this article that optimism finds expression in a hopeful vision for the spaces we share, resonating with real-life examples such as Helsinki’s Oodi Library.

A calming and harmonious place to just be by yourself or enjoy with friends

It’s not about what it is now. It’s about what it could be.

We’ve all seen them — the empty high streets, the boarded-up shops, the scattering of vape stores and forgotten chain remnants. A stroll through many town centres today can feel like walking through an afterthought of a bygone era. And yet, despite all this, we still look at these places with nostalgia, willing them back to life — pumping in funds, hoping a new mural or pop-up will somehow reverse decades of economic and social change. But maybe the problem isn’t that we’ve failed to fix what’s broken. Maybe we’re trying to revive something that no longer serves our needs. Because here’s the truth: most of us don’t go to town to buy things anymore. Why would we? We can shop online faster, cheaper, and with more choice — all from the comfort of our sofa. The days of trekking to a town centre just to buy socks or a toaster are over. Retail, as the primary purpose of town centres, has had its time. So what is the modern town centre for?

A multi-use learning and lecture zone, amphitheatre style

A place for people, not Just products

At the heart of it all, town centres are — at their best — places to be with other people. We meet friends for lunch, catch up over coffee, attend appointments, get face-to-face advice, or simply enjoy the feeling of being around others. And that’s where the opportunity lies. It’s time to stop trying to fix the town centres we have. Let’s build the ones we need.

Imagine this: wide, green plazas with communal seating where people gather day and night — not just for retail therapy, but for real life. Towns designed around human connection, not traffic flow. Places that feel alive, not abandoned. Big-box retail is out. But large shared spaces are in. Indoor markets filled with independent makers, artisans, and creators. Hand-crafted goods, unique foods, vibrant textures and smells — a place to browse, to explore, to connect with the story behind what you’re buying. No algorithms, no warehouse packaging — just humans and their craft. And at the end of the market, a food court—not the bland, plastic kind, but a “food fayre” where diverse kiosks surround shared seating. Four friends meet up, each gets a meal from a different kiosk, yet they sit together, talk, and share. That’s community. That’s choice. That’s town centre 2.0.

Multi-choice food court

Vertical towns for a sustainable future

Let’s think up, not out. Why sprawl when we can build smart, multi-level spaces? The ground floor becomes a hive of eateries, essential services, and high-footfall shops. Floors above house larger retailers, fitness spaces, quiet reading rooms, and clinics. At the top: rooftop bars, green terraces, stargazing spots. Compact. Accessible. Human.

More use of vertical space, but not in a tower block way

And beyond shopping? You’re not just “going into town” — you’re going to learn something new, attend a talk, take part in a group activity, or join a game. Town centres as learning hubs. As places of play, energy, inclusion. Space for children, for older adults, for anyone looking for something to do—and someone to do it with. Imagine organised classes, open mic evenings, philosophy cafés, fitness bootcamps, mental health drop-ins, storytelling circles. No more isolation. No more boredom. Just the quiet buzz of life well lived, and people together.

The beating heart: a humanist centrepiece

In the centre of it all? A civic beacon. Not a church, not a shopping mall — but a new kind of public building. A one-stop hub for help, information and purpose.

City Flourishing Centre

Need support? A question answered? Want to volunteer, join a group, or just say “I don’t know what I need”? This is your place. Council desks. Citizens’ Advice. Police liaison. Learning opportunities. All under one beautiful, light-filled roof — a shared cost for shared value.

No cars. No noise. Just people.

This new town centre isn’t built around roads. It’s a pedestrian sanctuary. Cars and buses drop off at the edge, with gentle shuttle buggies for those who need assistance. No scooters whizzing past, no engines revving — just the ambient sounds of music, laughter, conversation. Pollution-free. Accessible. Safe.

The bigger picture: where you live matters

Just outside the main hub? Beautiful, modern homes. Apartments overlooking green courtyards. Everything within walking distance. Your doctor, your library, your lunch spot, your learning group. No more searching the internet for community or purpose — it’s all here. Fingertip living. Flourishing by design. So… are you coming with me? Because I’m not just daydreaming. I’m packing my bags.

If you have a different vision, we'd love to hear about it. Drop it in the comments below, or if you have a LOT to say, drop us an email with a counter-article.

A reviewer's response

Aaron’s article presents a bold and imaginative rethinking of the town centre, shifting the focus away from retail towards connection, purpose and community. Rooted in humanist values, his vision blends idealism with practicality — an inclusive civic space with green areas, learning zones, shared food courts, and pedestrian-friendly design. At the heart of it is a striking idea: a central humanist hub offering support, information, and opportunities for engagement — a secular alternative to the church or shopping mall as the town’s emotional anchor. While visionary, it resonates with real-life examples such as Helsinki’s Oodi Library, which redefines what a public building can offer by combining learning, creativity and community under one roof. Aaron’s article is a hopeful invitation to imagine a built environment designed not just for commerce, but also for human flourishing.

Oodi Library in Helsinki opened in December 2018 and has since become a flagship example of a modern, community-centred library — offering not just books but also recording studios, maker spaces, meeting rooms, and areas for relaxation and socialising. It's widely admired as a model of inclusive, human-focused public architecture. It cost €98 million to build which was primarily covered by the City of Helsinki, with a €30 million contribution from the Finnish government as part of the celebration of Finland’s centenary of independence.

Helsinki’s Oodi Library is an exceptional flagship — a “cathedral of humanism” in many ways — but it's not unique. Several other projects around the world reflect similar humanist ideals: civic architecture designed around inclusion, education, wellbeing, accessibility, beauty, sustainability, and participatory citizenship. Here are a few compelling examples:

Dokk1 – Aarhus, Denmark

• What it is: Europe’s largest public library (opened 2015), but more than that: a citizen hub with municipal services, event spaces, play areas, and even a robotic parking system.

• Humanist features: It blends knowledge, culture and democracy. Residents can register births and get passports as well as attend lectures and concerts.

• Ethos: Dokk1 reflects Denmark’s strong civic culture and participatory democracy. The architecture is intentionally open, transparent and welcoming — designed to create “a space for all people”.

  

  Dokk1 library and citizen hub – Aarhus, Denmark (image linked to source)

Idea Stores – Tower Hamlets, London

• What they are: A radical rethinking of libraries in a deprived borough. Not just books but lifelong learning, skills development, and social space, integrated into local communities.

• Humanist features: Focus on empowerment through education, co-location of adult education and cultural programmes, free internet, and cafés — based on what local people said they wanted.

• Legacy: Idea Stores are a blueprint for how libraries can rebuild trust, inclusion and civic life in underserved areas.

  
  

Green Square Library & Plaza – Sydney, Australia

• What it is: A submerged library (literally built into the ground), surrounded by a new civic plaza, amphitheatre, community rooms, and public art.

• Humanist features: It's a non-commercial public realm where people gather to learn, read, rest or participate in events. The design encourages lingering and interaction — quiet beauty and shared experience.

• Won multiple architecture and community design awards.

  
  

Deichman Bjørvika Library – Oslo, Norway

• Opened: 2020, in Oslo’s revitalised waterfront district.

• What it is: A futuristic library and cultural centre with makerspaces, reading zones, cinema, language cafés and podcast studios.

• Humanist ethos: Promotes free access to information, digital and media literacy, and democratic dialogue.

• Architectural message: The building “leans forward” as a metaphor for a society that welcomes the future.

Tūranga – Christchurch, New Zealand

• What it is: A public library and knowledge centre, built after the devastating 2011 earthquake.

• Humanist emphasis: Designed to bring the whole city together in a spirit of recovery, unity and hope. Includes Maori cultural spaces, digital studios creative labs.

• Symbolism: A project about resilience, rebuilding and inclusive identity.

All of these examples reflect a civic humanist ethos: not rooted in religion or ideology, but in education, participation, creativity, equity and care. They show what can happen when public authorities and architects share an expansive vision of human flourishing — and have the budget to realise it.