I learned something thing week. This shouldn't really come as a surprise, since I'm currently attending university, but I learned an important thing this week. At least, important to me.
What did I learn? There's a geographic term for places such as public parks, coffee shops, and lounges. They're called "third places." I'll explain. It's really quite simple.
The first place is where you live. The second place is where you work. And the third place is where you gather. They're seen as increasing important places as the world urbanizes, with one product of urbanization being the shrinking of so-called first places, and the fluidity between the first and second places. In plain terms, apartment-dwellers tend to lack suburban luxuries, such as large rooms for entertaining and back yards, and with telecommunications people can work from home. It's why coffee shops are so successful in the city.
The big characteristic of third places is that they are venues for social interaction. They're a place to hang out, to have a chat, to meet and mingle. If you've ever attended a write-in, you likely met in one of these places.
So that's basically my big revelation of the week. Can you tell I'm looking at doing urban and community planning?
Now that we've established what a third place is, have you got one? Mine is Blenz downtown, as I've said in a previous post.
photos by Billie Hara, me
How specific/general can these places be? Like, could it be particular buildings in an area whose distinction are significant to only a few? Or does it have to be more "universally" identifiable? In my case, all three of my "places" as defined you are within a fifteen-minute walking distance, and sometimes not necessarily distinct from one another.
ReplyDeletegoing by the definition of a third place, it's anywhere that is emphasized by a sense of community. generally they're public places easily accessible to a large number of people. so i dunno what sort of spots you have in mind, but if you're using it as a communal venue it probably fits the definition. but who needs to fit an academic definition, anyway?
DeleteI'm still looking for a good third place.. though technically I'm not gathering there, but rather getting out of the house for undisturbed peace of sorts. :}
ReplyDeleteActually I take that back. The dance Studio I go to for Zumba is my third place - I get dance fitness and social interaction three days a week at lunch time. Then I'm there for an hour and a half on Saturday while my daughter dances and does musical theater. No coffee, but there are other parents to listen to.
Unconventional sure - but it works for me!
(I suspect being a parent has altered my third place.)
:} Cathryn / Elorithyrn
my third place requires caffeine. i think i'm part of a coffee shop generation. as i continue to grow those places will certainly change, though! one day i could be third placing in a bingo hall, hahah.
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