We Are Space Activators: A Philosophy of Interior Placemaking

At Zero Empty Spaces, we’ve spent the last several years doing something that—at first glance—seemed deceptively simple: filling empty commercial interiors with artists and creatives. What started as a solution to help visual artists access affordable workspace has evolved into something much deeper, and more far-reaching than we ever anticipated.

What we’ve come to realize is that we’re not just leasing space or supporting artists—we are part of a new kind of movement.

We are Space Activators.

We work at the intersection of creativity, community, and place—not in the parks, plazas, and streets often associated with traditional placemaking, but inside the walls of our cities. We see potential where others see vacancy. We activate environments that invite connection, creativity, and shared experience. We believe interior public spaces—those overlooked retail units, empty office suites, and forgotten storefronts—can be reimagined into something vibrant, inclusive, and alive.

This is our philosophy. This is what it means to be a Space Activator. 

Space Is Not Just Real Estate—It’s Potential

Our cities are full of empty interiors. Spaces that once housed boutiques, cafés, salons, and startups now sit dark and idle. These spaces are not just financial voids—they are missed opportunities for human connection, creativity, and commerce.

As Space Activators, we reject the idea that space is valuable only when leased long-term to high-paying tenants. We believe space has intrinsic civic and social potential, even in its in-between phases. Every empty suite is a chance to tell a new story. Every storefront window is an opportunity to invite people in.

Where others see nothing happening, we see a spark waiting to be ignited.

Interior Public Spaces Are Community Assets

Placemaking has traditionally focused on outdoor environments—transforming streets, parks, plazas, and waterfronts into places of gathering and belonging. We’re inspired by that tradition, but we’ve always asked: What about the spaces inside our buildings?

Lobby corridors, vacant retail shells, back-of-house kitchens, former salons—these are interior public spaces in waiting. And they matter just as much as any plaza or promenade. Especially in dense cities, retail districts, and colder climates, public life happens indoors.

Our philosophy is simple: If a space is accessible, inclusive, and designed with care and intention—it is a public space, regardless of who owns it.

Shared Creative Environments Change Lives

At Zero Empty Spaces, we’ve seen firsthand the power of what happens when you activate a space with creative people working in public view.

It started with artists: painters, sculptors, and fashion designers who once created in isolation now working side-by-side in open studios. Visitors wander in, ask questions, purchase work, share stories. The space hums with curiosity and conversation.

But our model has grown far beyond visual art.

We’re actively developing new iterations of our model to expand beyond visual arts. In the works are culinary spaces where chefs and bakers will be able to test new dishes, host pop-ups, and explore food as a creative medium. We're also envisioning cocktail labs and training grounds for bartenders and spirit professionals—spaces that will offer education, foster collaborations, and create immersive experiences that elevate local nightlife and hospitality culture. Additionally, we're planning co-retailing spaces designed for fashion designers, candle makers, and other handmade brands to share storefronts, reduce overhead, and build community through collaboration.

These expansions reflect our broader vision: to support all types of creative entrepreneurs in shared, accessible environments—where people from different backgrounds, industries, and skill sets can cross paths and inspire one another.

We believe that any creative entrepreneur—regardless of medium—deserves a place to work, grow, and thrive. Our role as Space Activators is to bring those places to life—and to keep them open, welcoming, and ever-evolving.

Creativity Is Economic Development

We often talk about our work in terms of placemaking, but it’s just as much about prosperity.

Every ZES location is an incubator. Artists gain visibility, clients, and income. Makers test their market before committing to a full lease. Chefs build followings and refine menus. Retailers find new customers and collaborations.

And it’s not just about the tenants. Our spaces draw foot traffic to commercial corridors. They create safety and vibrancy. They increase the perceived value of a neighborhood. Property owners benefit. Cities benefit. Communities benefit.

Creativity is not just enrichment—it’s infrastructure. When activated intentionally, creative space fuels local economies and empowers underrepresented voices to step into the spotlight.

Collaboration Is Our Operating System

We cannot do this work alone. Every activated space is the result of collaboration—with landlords willing to experiment, with city leaders who value culture, and with local creatives ready to show up and co-create.

We listen to the needs of each neighborhood. We adapt to the character of each building. We look for what’s already working and figure out how our presence can amplify rather than compete.

We design spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration: open layouts, transparent storefronts, communal tables, shared tools, and regular programming. These aren’t just workspaces—they’re social ecosystems, intentionally activated to support human connection.

Temporary Doesn’t Mean Disposable

Many of our leases are short-term. That’s part of what makes our model nimble and sustainable. But temporary does not mean shallow or insignificant.

We activate each ZES location with care, creativity, and community in mind. Even if we’re only in a space for six months, we make it matter. We host events, build relationships, and leave behind a legacy—often including permanent partnerships or long-term tenants who carry the energy forward.

Our belief: Every vacant space holds the potential to serve the people who live nearby—to become a place where local talent can be seen, supported, and celebrated, even if only for a season.

Interior Placemaking Is an Invitation

We use the term Space Activator because it reflects what we actually do. We don’t just manage space—we spark something in it. We bring it to life. We invite the community to step inside and engage.

That’s what placemaking is all about. And we believe interior placemaking is just as vital as its outdoor counterpart.

It’s not about turning every empty storefront into a gallery or every vacant kitchen into a pop-up. It’s about seeing potential where others don’t, and activating that potential through generosity, creativity, and collaboration.

It’s about inviting the public in—literally and figuratively. 

Anyone Can Be a Space Activator

You don’t need to be a developer or an artist or a city planner to activate space.

You can be a property owner who says yes to a creative use. A chef who mentors a local student. A city official who clears red tape. A teacher who brings a class on a studio tour. A neighbor who attends an open house and tells a friend.

Space activation is a mindset. It’s about asking what’s possible in the spaces we already have—and helping bring that possibility to life.

The Future of Our Cities Is Inside

As cities across the country grapple with vacant real estate, shifting commercial dynamics, and the urgent need for inclusive economic development, we believe the answers won’t come solely from new construction or massive capital projects.

They’ll come from rethinking the role of existing interior spaces, and from recognizing the abundance of creative energy in every community.

They’ll come from turning vacancy into vibrancy—one suite, one artist, one tasting, one conversation at a time.

They’ll come from a growing movement of Space Activators—people who see interior public space not as a dead end, but as a living beginning.

At Zero Empty Spaces, this is our work. This is our mission. This is our philosophy.

Let’s activate a better world, one space at a time.