The Third Place
The third place is a concept that describes the place in the community between school and work. It is a place in the neighbourhood where community gathers to have social interaction, recreation, conversation. It can be a place like the local barbershop. It can be a library if certain conditions are met.
In his influential book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.
He identifies the elements of a third place as:
In his influential book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.
He identifies the elements of a third place as:
- Free or inexpensive
- Food and drink, while not essential, are important
- Highly accessible: proximate for many (walking distance)
- Involve regulars – those who habitually congregate there
- Welcoming and comfortable
- Both new friends and old should be found there.
