Third Place

Andrés Walliser, Complutense University of Madrid

Definition

Introduced by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book “The Great Good Place” (1989). In 2001, he published the sequel Celebrating the Good Place (2001). This term refers to informal social spaces that are neither home (the first place) nor work (the second place), but which play a crucial role in community life and the construction of social relationships.

Third places are spaces where people can meet, interact, and socialize in a spontaneous and relaxed manner. These places foster a sense of community, social cohesion, and the exchange of ideas and are fundamental to individual and collective well-being.

Main characteristics of third places (Oldenburg, 1989):

Accessibility and neutrality: They are spaces open to all, where people feel comfortable and are not subject to social hierarchies.

Inclusiveness: They do not require exclusive memberships or specific conditions for participation.

Conversation is a primary activity: social interaction and dialogue are at the core of these spaces.

Spontaneity: Meetings and activities are not strictly/necessarily planned.

Relaxed atmosphere: These are informal places where people can be themselves.

Presence of “regulars”: Although they are open to all, they usually have a base of regular attendees who create a sense of familiarity. 

Playful character: They promote an atmosphere of fun and relaxation.

Some examples of third places include coffee shops, bars, libraries, public squares, parks, beauty salons, and other community spaces.

Background information and contemporary debate

As mentioned, Oldenburg is the principal author and creator of the concept. His work “The Great Good Place” (1989) and its sequel, “Celebrating the Third Place” (2001), are the fundamental references for understanding this concept—other authors before have referred to similar ideas as the ones contained in the notion of third place. 

Jane Jacobs does not use the term “third place” in her book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (1961), but she highlights the importance of public spaces and social interactions in urban life, which relates to the idea of ​​third places.

Some years before, Erving Goffman discussed social interaction and “meeting spaces” in “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life” (1959), a relevant work to understanding how people relate to each other in informal settings.

Finally, Robert Putnam, in his book “Bowling Alone: ​​The Collapse and Revival of American Community” (2000), analyzes the decline of community life in the United States and the importance of social spaces for social capital, which complements the idea of ​​third places.

There has been a debate surrounding the concept of third place and social infrastructure, as developed by Eric Klinenberg in his book “Palaces for People” (2018).

Third places can be considered a subset of social infrastructure. For example, a library or a park can function as both a third place (where people gather informally) and as part of the broader social infrastructure (providing resources and services to the community). Both concepts emphasise the importance of physical spaces in fostering social connections; however, social infrastructure takes a more systemic and policy-oriented view, while third places focus on the lived experience of social interaction.

References

Oldenburg, R (2001). Celebrating the Third Place. Inspiring stories about the “Great Good Places” at the heart of our communities. ARROW. 

Oldenburg, R. (1989). The great good place: cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community (2nd ed.). Berkshire Publishing Group LLC.