Creative Class Breathes New Life into Empty Spaces

Writer Alissa Walker takes a look at some of these reused empty spaces, and discusses how other creative types can get involved in taking advantage of a down real estate market for innovative space-based projects and installations.

"The fact that these three creatives have founded true cultural centers and succeeded in doing it in a place as notoriously scattered as Los Angeles makes me believe their concepts are true models for success.

I bring this up now because probably every designer, architect or artist I've ever spoken with has expressed the desire to open and operate a space: a gallery, a store, a classroom. And I would say this is the time. There's a reason this is the age of the pop-up shop: space is available, and it's yours for the taking. Use this moment when you've got a little extra downtime to inhabit the empty space next door, or some available space in your office that's looking a bit lonely. Creating a space is the perfect opportunity to collaborate on a concept with other designers that helps all of you stay visible, busy, and creatively-fulfilled."