lonita.net - Third places

Third places

2023 12 16 | etc no date 2024 + 2025 entries home

Third places are social settings outside of the home (first place) and work (second place) where people gather, socialise, and form community bonds. These settings offer numerous benefits to individuals and communities:

Third places foster social connections and provide space for people to meet, interact, and connect. They are places that foster conversation and other social connections that contribute to a sense of community and social well-being, reducing feelings of isolation, and facilitating community building. The community in such places kindles diversity and inclusivity among people of different backgrounds, fostering diversity and inclusivity, enriching social interactions, and aiding in understanding varied viewpoints.

Through the community of a third place and the hubs that they become, the ease of finding advice, support, and assistance is greatly simplified and facilitated. These places provide a vital source of cultural exchange by providing an easy-to-access place to share ideas, knowledge, and traditions, contributing not only to personal and communal growth, but also to understanding, and personal enjoyment. They provide a way not only to learn about the differences of others but also the things you hold in common with others. Through that shared discussion and learning, through brainstorming, through the sharing of varied views and perspectives, can come the enriched creativity and innovation that can only come from a group of people working together. Which, amongst other things, can also contribute to civic engagement, provide a forum for the discussion of local issues, and can contribute to a sense of responsibility and participation in local affairs.

The community formed in third places, and the opportunities for recreation and socialising, can help foster a sense of belonging, can help to reduce stress, and promote well-being, Although we aren't all joiners, we still sometimes need the company of others, and third places can alleviate loneliness and depression. Not only do third places provide immense personal benefits, they offer social and economic benefits as well, for visitors and locals. A good third place can attract visitors, and provide ease of access for locals and others to a variety of businesses, services, and other amenities, which can have a positive impact on local economies and employment. All of these things together can lessen social inequality by providing a place for people to meet on equal terms.

Third places can take many different formats, but some of the most common manifestations of third places in North American culture include parks, town squares, public spaces, libraries, cafes and other eating spaces, community centres and halls, bars and pubs, churches and other places of worship, galleries, museums, bookstores, rec centres, personal care shops, farmers and community markets, coworking spaces, plus communal and shared transit. I think we should concentrate on building more third places that are accessible to a more diversified range of people and are less dependant on a person's ability to pay.

These spaces also need to be less hostile to the homeless and to youth, both of whom have very limited options when it comes to healthy gathering places. The homeless are often made unwelcome via the use of hostile architecture, which makes spaces unfriendly for everyone else as well. Youth are often unwelcome for a host of reasons. Elements of hostile architecture need to be eliminated in favour of architecture that serves humans, not harms them.

To foster the equal footing of all, third places could - at least in part - be publicly funded, providing a wide range of services and amenities to suit the community's needs and choices. Access to some of these places could, for example, result in earned credits for educational purposes, both in terms of learnt information and volunteering. Things that should be considered for a functional and enjoyable third place:

Accessible entrances, ramps, restrooms, adaptive technologies, and amenities for people with disabilities.
Comfortable and accessible seating that appeals to a variety of needs - couches, armchairs, benches, tables, etc.
Tables and workspaces that Include standing desks, tables, or work areas equipped with power outlets, ethernet, charging ports, and wireless access.
Free reliable and high-speed internet access to support remote work, study, research, or casual usage.
Keeping a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment, that includes recycling options.

That could include these small touches to kick up the enjoyability and functionality a notch:

Reading materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, digital resources, and little free libraries.
Board games and other activities such as puzzles, cards, digital gaming, colouring and craft supplies.
Community bulletin boards, info kiosks, announcements, event flyers, local news, and message exchanges.
Art installations, decorations, murals that add visual appeal, colouring materials, and craft supplies.
Ambient music or live performances that add to the ambiance without being intrusive.
Used applicably, you could include plants, seating, gardens, or parkettes.
Consider including a method of prompting or display that encourages people to converse, share thoughts, or participate in discussions.

Expanding on what makes the space enjoyable and functional to use, you could consider the following:

Community involvement, programmes, clubs, volunteering, collaborative projects, and other initiatives that encourage community involvement.
Affordable childcare options, after-school programmes, summer and other holiday camps, emotional support services, and other childcare and youth programmes and services.
Classrooms or workshops for vocational training, adult education, and other forms of learning.
Clinics, mental health services, nutrition counselling, wellness workshops, first aid training, CPR classes, disaster preparedness workshops. fitness classes, yoga studios, meditation rooms, and other health and wellness amenities.
Community kitchens, cooking classes, nutrition education programmes, community gardens, community fridges and food banks, and other food and nutrition services, including for-profit businesses such as cafés, restaurants, or other food and beverage options.
Festivals, markets, and other encompassing community events.
Sign language interpreters, as well as other services and amenities for people with disabilities.
Areas for community events, meetings, and socialising, that are flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of events, workshops, seminars, and other gatherings.
Business incubators, mentorship programmes, resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs, networking, job boards, job fairs, and co-working space.
Computer labs, digital media production facilities, filmmaking facilities, and other technology services.
Educational programmes, workshops, training sessions, and classrooms.
Galleries, studios, performance space, printmaking studio, other arts and cultural spaces, community arts programmes, public art installations, community theatre, and other forms of community-based art and culture.
Gyms, sports facilities, game rooms, and other rec areas.
Intergenerational programming that brings together people of different ages, mentorship programmes, intergenerational book clubs, and community volunteering.
Makerspaces, tool libraries and equipment for DIY projects, 3D printing, and other services.
Meeting rooms, event spaces, co-working and office space, private offices, printing facilities, and other workspaces.
Outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, plazas, and outdoor recreational and sports areas.
Recycling programmes, energy efficiency workshops, community clean-up initiatives, upcycling opportunities, and environmental services.
Shared office spaces with internet access, printers, and other office equipment for remote workers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.
Support and community services such as financial and other forms of counselling, legal aid, and other forms of support.
Translation and interpreter services, language classes, and multilingual staff and signage.
Voter registration and info services, election voting locations, civic education workshops, community organising initiatives, community engagement, participatory voting events, and events advertising.

We already have a fairly functional source of third place in the form of the public library - but there's no reason we couldn't enhance that, and make that better.

You could designate spaces within the library specifically for socialising, collaboration and more informal meet-ups, and furnish them in a comfortable and welcoming manner.
When needed, provide dedicated spaces for specific groups such as teens, seniors, or entrepreneurs.
Host a variety of diverse events, such as book clubs, talks, workshops, game nights, movie screenings, cultural events, and family/children's activities.
Work with local organisations to facilitate events, workshops, and programmes.
Provide educational opportunities and services.
Technology access that includes Wi-Fi, computer use, and other technologies.
Promote the idea of the library as a community hub, and a central meeting and gathering space.
Spaces could be provided for coworking and study, which gives these groups access to the library's other amenities - internet access, printing services, and books.
Many libraries also provide makerspaces and creative studios, such as 3D printing and crafting.
Many libraries also include performance and exhibition spaces, and function as locations for voting during elections.
Along with other gathering spaces, space could be provided for game rooms/nights - for board games, digital gaming, and other recreational activities.
If space allows, you could provide external reading areas and small garden spaces.
Offer an area for a snack bar and applicable seating to promote sociability.
You could host salons, listening events, tech taster events to try out new stuff, ask an expert sessions, etc.

Another way to increase community - and provide a wealth of different kinds of supports - is to create a community kitchen/cooking. This would be a perfect addition to a third place, especially in conjunction with a community garden. The benefits and services of a community kitchen/community cooking, not the least of them being a way to address food insecurity and social isolation, include:

Learning to adapt recipes and cooking techniques to accommodate the available ingredients.
Communal cooking projects can change an individual struggle into a collective effort, lightening the load for everyone.
They can promote community building and support, as communal cooking can foster a sense of community and shared purpose, reduce social isolation, and provide a supportive environment.
Communal cooking can help foster a sense of support and connection.
Communal cooking/kitchens can provide cost-effective meals. By cooking in larger quantities, more affordable meals can be provided by stretching limited food budgets Each participant can bring in what they have and someone can come up with a recipe or meal plan that can make use of everyone's contributions, thus creating more for everyone.
Community kitchens have the added benefit of potentially providing exposure to a variety of different cultural foods and traditions.
Active participation in the cooking process can help foster confidence in participants in their ability to prepare foods, which promotes self-reliance and less dependence on prepared foods or other sources.
People can be encouraged to share knowledge, skills, and cultural traditions with the group.
Nutrition information and healthy eating habits can be provided during cooking sessions, teaching participants about healthy food choices, meal planning, and strategies for making the most of available resources.
Education on sustainability practises can also be provided during the cooking and gardening sessions, such as using local and seasonal ingredients, reducing packaging waste, use of more parts of a plant or animal, and composting food scraps.
A community cooking project could provide a chance for people to learn new cooking techniques, recipes, new uses for known foods, food preservation methods, how to make the most of limited resources, and how to utilise their resources effectively.

Some other practicalities could include:

Establishing a regular schedule for cooking sessions can help provide accessibility for those with varied schedules.
These initiatives can serve as distribution points for surplus food from food banks, community gardens, grocery stores, and farms, helping excess food reach those in need.
The pooling of ingredients and tools can help people make the most of the resources they have, reducing waste and creating more substantial and varied meals.

Some other enhancements could include:

Community bike shops and bike/e-bike sharing
Disaster relief and emergency response hubs
Green corridors
Marketplaces
Newcomer welcome pack distribution
Partnerships with local businesses
Pedestrianised streets
Playgrounds and play spaces
Pocket parks
Public restrooms and showers
Streetscape enhancements

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