Great post Tony. Third places are definitely important spaces in greenfield development where developers are mostly doing a good job in my view of creating a variety of places that might appeal to different groups. Many are focused on outdoor activity, including nature appreciation. Kids sometimes just need spaces to hang out and get away from adults and nature reserves are great for that. In established urban areas many of these third places are provided by Local Government or NFPs and again, I think, the relevant organisations are doing a pretty good job of providing variety of spaces to appeal to different groups. What about people who aren’t ‘joiners’ by nature, though? I think we need to guard against over-reliance on commercial enterprises to create our third places (despite Oldenburg eulogising German beer gardens!)
Sounds like the CRI is doing great work in this area; keep it up!
Totally agree, Guy, that we shouldn't over-rely on commercial enterprises to create our third places. Many are already doing so...think Westfield going from shopping malls to combined retail/social spaces. But that doesn't change the need for local councils to deliver proper third places - especially ones with no cost to use.
Great post Tony. Third places are definitely important spaces in greenfield development where developers are mostly doing a good job in my view of creating a variety of places that might appeal to different groups. Many are focused on outdoor activity, including nature appreciation. Kids sometimes just need spaces to hang out and get away from adults and nature reserves are great for that. In established urban areas many of these third places are provided by Local Government or NFPs and again, I think, the relevant organisations are doing a pretty good job of providing variety of spaces to appeal to different groups. What about people who aren’t ‘joiners’ by nature, though? I think we need to guard against over-reliance on commercial enterprises to create our third places (despite Oldenburg eulogising German beer gardens!)
Sounds like the CRI is doing great work in this area; keep it up!
Totally agree, Guy, that we shouldn't over-rely on commercial enterprises to create our third places. Many are already doing so...think Westfield going from shopping malls to combined retail/social spaces. But that doesn't change the need for local councils to deliver proper third places - especially ones with no cost to use.