Let ${ℱ}_h^i(k,n)$ be the $i$-th ordered configuration space of all distinct points $H_1,...,H_h$ in the Grassmannian $Gr(k,n)$ of $k$-dimensional subspaces of ${ℂ}^n$, whose sum is a subspace of dimension $i$. We prove that ${ℱ}_h^i(k,n)$ is (when non empty) a complex submanifold of $Gr{(k,n)}^h$ of dimension $i(n-i)+hk(i-k)$ and its fundamental group is trivial if $i=min(n,hk)$, $hk\ne n$ and $n\>2$ and equal to the braid group of the sphere $ℂ$$P^{}$

We prove that the space $ex{p}_k\bigvee S^{m+1}$ of nonempty subsets of cardinality at most k in a bouquet of m+1-dimensional spheres is (m+k-2)-connected. This, as shown by Tuffley, implies that the space $ex{p}_{k}X$ is (m+k-2)-connected for any m-connected cell complex X.

Following a Bendersky-Gitler idea, we construct an isomorphism between Anderson’s and Arone’s complexes modelling the chain complex of a mapping space. This allows us to apply Shipley’s convergence theorem to Arone’s model. As a corollary, we reduce the problem of homotopy equivalence for certain “toy” spaces to a problem in homological algebra.