Introduction. Collaborative spaces between current trends and future challenge

Collaborative spaces are built and designed following the assumption that face-to-face contact has a positive impact on the propensity of individuals with different backgrounds to interact and exchange ideas, thus favoring the development of a sense of creative community. The proliferation of collaborative spaces can be understood in the light of the developments that have characterized the broader socio-economic context since the end of the last century and have led to major changes in the ways people work, socialize, and make consumption decisions. Although factors explaining the diffusion and importance of collaborative spaces are variegated and strongly interlinked with each other, three main factors should be highlighted: the emergence of a socio-cognitive model of capitalism, the need for urban regeneration, and changes in the nature of work. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.