Not home, not work, but somewhere welcoming and comfortable outside of those two spaces, the concept of the Third Space has been around since the turn of the century. It is, however gaining fresh traction with increasing numbers of us opting for smaller living spaces that are more cost effective to run, easier to maintain, and give us the freedom of a lock-up-and-go lifestyle.

There is so much talk about the virtues of making things multipurpose that it’s easy to forget that we can step outside of that entirely. There is something to be said for finding this Third Space because it expands our sense of not only where we live, but also who we are.

What is it?

The Third Space is comprised of places that aren’t home and aren’t work, but where you can go and feel at ease. We’re talking about coffee shops, cafés, bookstores, hair and beauty salons, bistros, restaurants, small eateries, delis and more.

The concept comes from a 1999 book called The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg. It says these are the “many public places where people can gather, put aside the concerns of home and work (their first and second places), and hang out simply for the pleasures of good company and lively conversation”.

The Third Space is often at the heart of a community and in this age of activism and uprising, it is also considered, more broadly, to be the grassroots of modern democracy. In their simplest forms, these informal settings and places of public life are essential for the health of our communities and ourselves.

General benefits

• Building a sense of community
• Creating a sense of self
• Encouraging creativity
• Stimulating the free exchange of ideas

Personal benefits

Whether you’re going out to join a silent yoga session in a public park, trying out the new boxing gym down the road, or taking your laptop to your local coffee shop and working from there for a few hours every day, finding your Third Space will provide you with a healthy and stimulating change of scenery, give you opportunities to socialise, interact and meet new people, and enable you to engage and become more involved in your community.

Third Spaces are good for all of us.

One on Whiteley offers the ultimate in Third Space living, thanks its setting within the vibrant mixed-use precinct of Melrose Arch. Come and experience it and see for yourself. Please contact Tersia Taljaard on 087 897 0222 or email tersiat@amdec.co.za to discuss opportunities at Melrose Arch, or any other of the Amdec Group’s developments.