Third place
Ray Oldenburg described the notions of first, second and third places. The first place is the home that we share with those people who have the closest ties with us, namely our family and, at most, our best friends. Coexistence has unwritten rules that are unambiguous, clear to everybody and nobody questions the validity of these rules. The second place can be the workplace, university or school. These are the places where we spend most of our time during the day. We do not and cannot always choose the people with whom we spend our daytime at these places, but common values and norms that define the framework of being together are necessary at these places too. In addition to these, there is need for so-called third places in today’s cities that represent all those community places where people go voluntarily. [1]
The third place has the following characteristics:
- brings the people living in the neighbourhood close to each other,
- it is the ‘community gate’ for the newcomers and the visitors,
- promotes the formation of different groups (art, etc),
- brings the youngsters and the adults closer to each other,
- promotes the development of the neighbourhood,
- promotes political discussions,
- reduces living costs,
- entertains,
- offers the gift of friendship (friendships can be born here),
- it is important for the pensioners.[2]
Third places are indispensable in community formation and development. There are not clearly specified norms in every respect, but we can develop them via confrontation with the values represented by the parties.
Oldenburg’s book had a fertilizing effect on the literature of sociology. The writing of Jerry Kloby represents an important momentum in the after-life of the theory. Kloby defined the components of a successful third place the following way:
- one can enter free or cheap and buy there drinks and food,
- easy to access from home even on foot,
- several people are there every day,
- everybody feels good and it is easy to start a conversation with the others, and
- whoever enters the place, he/she can meet, each time, old and new friends there.[3]
The third place is a comfortable and inviting medium. Its characteristic is discourse that offers the opportunity to learn from the others. Those who often visit these places create a community.
References:
- [1] Oldenburg, R. (1989) The Great Good Place. New York, Paragon Books.
- [2] Szóllás Péter: A könyvtár mint harmadik hely = Könyv, könyvtár, könyvtáros, 19. évf., 11. sz. 3-7. p. http://ki.oszk.hu/3k/2011/07/a-konyvtar-mint-harmadik-hely/
- [3] Szóllás Péter, i.m.
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