If you have been active on social media sites such as Tiktok and Youtube over the past few months, you probably would have come across the idea of the Third Space. This is not a new idea, not by any means. But it has had a resurgence lately with various video essays, TikToks and articles coming out detailing its importance. As well as its decline. The term “third place” was originally coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg. Third Spaces refer to public places on neutral ground where people can gather and interact outside of home and work. Furthermore, they are “essential community resources and places where friends, family, and neighbors can meet, spend time together, and engage in civic life.” For example, these are parks, libraries, religious spaces, bookstores, gyms, museums, natural areas, bars, coffee shops and so many more. 

Think of it like this; when you watch your favourite comfort shows, such as Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Cheers, Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, etc- a part of each episode is spent in a Third Space. These include coffee shops, bars, restaurants, parks, etc. There they chat, they drink, they meet new people and they enjoy spending time with their friends and family. Showcasing community and connection, it acts as a centrepiece of each episode, often the most iconic space within the show. And we watch them have fun and experience joy within these spaces… from the comfort of our couches.  Now watching our favourite characters enjoy bars and coffee shops is fun and all, but we need to go out and experience our own Third Spaces. It is essential for fostering balance in our lives and nurturing our identities outside of work and home. 

Third Spaces are places of warmth. Places of community. Places of joy and connection. It is within these spaces that we find respite from the mundanity of life. When we get out of the house or workplace and into a Third Space, we create an opportunity for ourselves to find friends, enjoy camaraderie, have some fun and break up the routine of the everyday. Humans are inherently social creatures and third places have been proven to be good for our mental health. So why are they in such a decline? You may be reading this and thinking of the abundance of Third Spaces you visit and know of. And no, they are not dead, not yet at least especially not in Cape Town which is full of various social spaces and micro-communities.

That said, Third Spaces are diminishing globally. With the impact of COVID-19, the rising costs of living and the increasing prevalence of technology and social media in our lives, most people don’t spend as much time in Third Spaces as they should. They can’t afford to. Instead of Third Spaces being an essential part of our lives and well-being, they are now a privilege. We have largely moved inside and online. Our homes are now our main spaces. And since we are living in a digital age, many Third Spaces have been replaced by online communities. With the rise of the socials, we are often getting our Third Space “fix” from our online spaces instead. It is easier to find community through Facebook interactions, TikTok posts and Discord meetings than through spending time and money to go to bars or theatres. 

However, whilst online spaces are important, they do not replace the sense of community, belonging and connection that comes with the in-person interactions of third spaces.  Third Spaces are thought to be places where social, political and economic hierarchies fall away. Where people from all backgrounds come together to interact. Okay, yes this is true to an extent. But Third Spaces are inherently privileged. They require time and often money to visit. For some, it is not easy to just go for a swim at Silvermine or go visit the penguins in Simonstown. If you are struggling to provide for your family or look after your kids or are working 12 hours a day, taking a trip to Newlands forest or Muizenberg is probably not on the forefront of your mind.

Plus, many third spaces are located in more affluent or gentrified neighbourhoods. It is easy to preach that we must spend more time in third places but in reality, it isn’t so simple. However, if you are able to visit Third Spaces, I implore you to make the most of them. As much as you can. We cannot spend our lives rotting in the cycle of home and work, home and work, home and work. It slowly destroys your soul. We need changes from our routine. We need the community and the connection that stems from these third spaces. Now more than ever. According to Kenneth M. Cramer and Hailey Pawsey, a sense of community is one of the strongest indicators of personal happiness . And in a world that is increasingly designed to isolate and depress us, more community is what we need right now.

And, if you’re looking for that sense of community, Cape Town is the place to be. The beaches, the mountains, the various bars and coffee shops and social and active groups make it easy to find Third Spaces if you’re looking. It is a city filled with culture, art, natural spaces and communal areas. From the Company’s Garden to the Labia Theatre to The Commons to the Neighbourgoods Market, everywhere you look is an opportunity for community and socialisation outside of home and work in Cape Town. Community is woven into the Mother City’s fabric. You just have to seek it out. 

So, if you can, take a break from the screens. Leave your house for a little. Switch off your work phone. And take a walk. Or grab a coffee. Or sit by the ocean. Stop by a quiz night or join parkrun! Pick up a free library card and spend some time in your local public library! Maybe even hit up one of the Cape Creative Collective’s First Thursdays Down South (shameless self-plug).

Just get out. Experience community. Break the cycle. You won’t regret it.