Third Places

Coined by Ray Oldenburg, “third places” are informal gathering spaces distinct from home (first place) and work (second place). Cafés, bars, libraries, and parks function as accessible environments for sociability, exchange, and community. They sustain civic life by offering arenas of interaction beyond institutional or commercial hierarchies. In urbanism, third places are seen as antidotes to privatized and fragmented spatial orders. They foreground how social life is structured by spaces of in-between.

BASE is a France-based studio known for its out-of-the-box thinking and unexpected design choices, often introducing challenges that can be overcome through play. Encountering an obstacle in a public space—one that invites engagement and risk-taking—creates a tension that can lead to moments of joyful liberation. A key aspect of BASE’s approach is putting trust in […]

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