Where Did Our Hangouts Go? Reviving America’s “Third Spaces”

Not long ago, Americans took for granted the local diner or bar where “everybody knows your name.” You’re not at home (your “first place”) or in the office (your “second place”), but somewhere in between – an informal hangout where you can unwind, chat, and bump into neighbors. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg famously called such environments “third places,” describing them as the living rooms of society where people exchange ideas, build relationships, and nurture community. Third spaces – whether coffee shops, bookstores, barbershops, bars or parks – have outsized importance: they are where friendships form, neighbors share news, strangers become acquaintances, and where a sense of belonging and civic life takes root. Yet across America, third spaces have been vanishing and along with them, a sense of connection.

The High Line by Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Now, many of us struggle to answer: Where do you go if you’re not at work or home? Increasingly, the answer is nowhere. A confluence of cultural and infrastructural forces has caused third places to dwindle.

  • Digital Life and “At-Home” Everything: The rise of delivery apps, social media, and on-demand entertainment has made it easy to socialize (or at least scroll) from the couch instead of the coffee shop. Even before COVID-19, time Americans spent with friends was already plummeting – from about 6.5 hours a week to just 4 hours (a 37% drop) between 2014 and 2019 . The pandemic then turbocharged this trend by normalizing virtual meetups and solo streaming. We’re hyperconnected in the virtual world but socially disconnected in real life – a fact underscored by a growing loneliness epidemic linked to our lack of in-person interaction. Socializing is “a learned skill” and many adults are now “out of practice”.

  • Suburban Sprawl and Zoning Woes: America’s car-centric development has not been kind to third spaces. Postwar suburbanization zoned daily life into isolated bubbles – residential subdivisions here, shopping centers there, offices over there, none of it walkable. The early-20th-century reshaping of cities around automobiles gutted street life: highways sliced through neighborhoods, and it became easier to “isolate yourself in a private vehicle than walk or bike” to a local tavern or park. Suburban culture often emphasized private home life (the backyard barbecue, the TV room) over public gathering.

  • “No Loitering” and Cost Barriers: Even where third places exist, not everyone can access them. Many public spaces have succumbed to privatization or commercial pressures, eroding the “free and accessible” aspect of true third places. Public parks and rec centers suffered funding cuts and sometimes introduced fees. Meanwhile, private establishments that serve as third places (like coffee shops) often monetize the atmosphere. Some cafés deliberately design seating to discourage lingering without buying more. America’s obsession with productivity and status has seeped into the design of our hangouts – no more comfy couches, it’s all hard chairs and “pay-by-the-hour” coworking tables. The result? Those on a tight budget or with nowhere else to go often feel unwelcome or are explicitly excluded.

  • Long Work Hours and Scheduled Lives: Another culprit in third space decline is simply lack of time. Americans work longer hours and have more structured schedules than in decades past. Sociologists note that people today often schedule social meetups like appointments, rather than stumbling into serendipitous gatherings. When every hour feels spoken for, the leisurely camaraderie of the park or basketball league falls by the wayside. Our culture’s glorification of hustle culture comes at a cost: communities have fewer informal connectors knitting people together.

The 15-Cigarette Problem

You might wonder – if people have Netflix, Facebook, and comfy couches at home, why fuss about third spaces? The answer: because our social fabric and even our health depend on them. Third places are not just frivolous luxuries; they are linked to a host of positive outcomes for individuals and communities.

Consider loneliness, which public health experts now deem a serious epidemic. The U.S. Surgeon General in 2023 warned that widespread loneliness poses health risks equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Third spaces historically have been a powerful antidote to loneliness – they provide low-pressure settings to be around others, form friendships, and feel a sense of belonging. It’s no coincidence that as third places declined, loneliness rates and related mental health issues climbed. Without these crucial gathering spots, people have fewer opportunities to feel valued in their communities. Especially for populations at risk (the elderly, new parents, young people new to a city), a local hangout can be a lifeline – a place to be seen and heard.

Like it or not, McDonald’s has unintentionally become de facto community centers as other third spaces disappear.

From a health perspective, regular social interaction in person correlates with lower rates of depression and dementia and even longer lifespan. Oldenburg (who coined the term “third places”) liked to point out “coffee or beer in a third place functions as a “social sacrament” – the beverage is often just an excuse for the real nourishment, which is conversation.” In physical third spaces, unlike on social media, we engage all our senses and practice empathy in real time. These encounters can bridge divides: in a great third place, a nurse might chat with a gallery owner, a florist with a city planner, and everyone leaves feeling a bit more connected. Such encounters are increasingly rare in our siloed society, which is why designing spaces that encourage them is so vital.

A simple intervention, Outdoor Office in Washington D.C. provides tables and chairs on a first-come, first-served basis, and free WiFi.

Quantitatively, researchers have found links between access to third spaces and indicators of community health. For example, neighborhoods with more public meeting spots tend to have lower crime and higher trust among residents. One Urban Institute analysis emphasized ensuring equitable access to third places as a strategy to boost upward mobility and well-being in disinvested neighborhoods. *find a chart for this statistic* The message is clear: the presence (or absence) of inviting third spaces has real ripple effects on public health, equality, and happiness.

Lessons from Abroad: Third Space Culture in Other Countries

Many countries have preserved vibrant third place traditions that the U.S. can learn from. Let’s take a quick world tour of how other cultures successfully foster the art of hanging out.

In Paris, sidewalk cafés epitomize a thriving third space culture. It’s common to see Parisians spending hours nursing a single espresso at a terrasse, engaged in people-watching or animated debate. French urban design has long prioritized human-scale, aesthetically pleasing streets that invite lingering . Despite being a big city, Paris famously retains “the life of the street and that of the bistro” side by side. The result is a daily rhythm where socializing is seamlessly woven into errands and routines – you might stop by the boulangerie and end up in a conversation with a neighbor at the adjacent café. Even government policy protects this culture, keeping rent controls for historic cafes.

Mexico provides yet another angle: the public market as a third space. In Mexico City, sprawling neighborhood markets (mercados and tianguis) aren’t just shopping venues – they’re social hubs brimming with life. A Lonely Planet writer called the capital’s food markets “essential social and economic spaces” teeming with locals and delicacies. Take Mercado de Jamaica or Mercado La Merced: you’ll find families doing their weekly shopping, sure, but also friends gossiping over tamales at a food stall, kids playing around produce stands, and elders meeting their neighbors. Merchants and patrons often know each other by name, oftentimes across generations. The physical design helps – stalls are close together, aisles narrow, encouraging interaction. Many markets include sit-down eating areas (fondas) which effectively function like a dining hall for the community. Importantly, Mexico City has worked to keep its hundreds of mercados public and affordable, resisting the push to replace them with sterile supermarkets. The result is an enduring network of third spaces across socioeconomic strata. The takeaway for the U.S.? Prioritize vibrant public marketplaces – they can be a backbone of social infrastructure, mixing commerce with connection in a way Amazon never will.

Of course, many other examples abound: the British pub where the whole village gathers, the Japanese kissaten or sento fostering camaraderie, the Italian piazza with its evening passeggiata strolls. In each case, a mix of cultural habit and supportive design/policy keeps third spaces alive. Americans traveling abroad often marvel at how lively these spaces are – but those didn’t survive by accident. It took conscious choices to allow street life to flourish (e.g. limiting cars, encouraging alfresco seating, funding public maintenance, respecting that leisure time is valuable). We can choose similarly.

Bringing Third Spaces Back Across Industries

From big brands to tiny startups, from city governments to grassroots organizers – folks around the world have recognized the value of third places and are actively trying to reinvent or revive them. Here are a few noteworthy efforts:

Interwoven by The Urban Conga

Interwoven, a community-designed third space in Baltimore by the design studio The Urban Conga, transformed an unsafe park area into a vibrant gathering spot. This small public installation was co-created with residents of the Brooklyn neighborhood, which had been plagued by crime and neglect. Rather than a top-down approach, the designers held workshops so locals could shape a space “they can call theirs”. The resulting intervention provides an open-ended communal place for neighbors to listen, play, and converse. Interwoven even includes prompts on the seating (“What do you dream? What do you feel?”) to encourage reflection and dialogue about community issues. The Urban Conga’s project shows how creative design and public art can breathe new life into third spaces, even in challenging environments. It’s not a coffeehouse or bar – it’s literally an outdoor “third place” built for and by the community, proving that with a bit of imagination (and some good benches), any neglected corner can become a social hub.

Nike Unlimited Stadium by BBH

Nike’s Unlimited Stadium transformed a vacant urban lot in Manila into a dynamic, tech-powered third space—blurring the boundary between brand activation and public placemaking. For one summer in 2016, the pop-up installation invited runners to compete against digital avatars of themselves on a 200-meter LED-lined track shaped like a giant Nike shoe sole. By merging physical activity, personal data, and spectacle, the experience drew thousands of participants and spectators, temporarily reimagining the city block as a shared arena of movement and motivation. Though fleeting, the project demonstrated how immersive design and athletic play can energize public space and cultivate momentary community through brand-led intervention.

Zeitz MOCAA by Heatherwick Studio

In the museum world, Zeitz MOCAA transformed a historic grain silo into a vibrant third space at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the museum reimagines 42 concrete tubes as soaring galleries and a light-filled atrium—inviting not just art viewing, but gathering, lingering, and discovery. Beyond its cultural programming, the rooftop terrace, sculpture garden, and surrounding public plazas foster casual encounters and community use. By blending design innovation with heritage reuse, Zeitz MOCAA anchors a growing arts precinct and exemplifies how institutional spaces can double as inclusive, civic-minded third places.

Designing the Third Spaces of Tomorrow: A Call to Action

So, how should designers, urbanists, brands, and city leaders approach third space design going forward? What’s our point of view on making these places come alive (and stay alive) in 2025 and beyond?

First, it’s clear that we must intentionally prioritize third spaces as essential infrastructure, not afterthoughts. They are as important to a healthy community as roads and utilities. This means allocating funding, creativity, and policy support toward places whose main “function” is fostering interaction and leisure. In a world fixated on efficiency, championing unstructured hangout spots is a quietly radical stance – and one we wholeheartedly endorse. We believe designers and leaders should measure success not just in economic terms, but in social terms: Are people gathering? Are conversations happening? Does this space make life a little more joyful?

Second, the third spaces of the future may not look exactly like the taverns of old – and that’s okay. They might be hybrid spaces or pop-ups or community “living rooms” in unconventional spots. Flexibility and multipurpose design will be key. For instance, a single physical space might serve as a café by day, a venue by night, and a weekend farmers market. Such blending not only maximizes usage (and revenue streams, helping viability) but also brings diverse groups together. We should encourage experiments – from putting third places in unused storefronts to designing mobile pop up spaces. The form is less sacred than the function. As long as the core traits – accessible, welcoming, human-centric – are met, we should embrace novel interpretations.

Ways to embed third space thinking into your projects:

  • Design for Loitering (and Laughter): Create environments that invite people to stay and socialize. This could mean comfortable seating arrangements that encourage conversation (circular tables, benches facing each other) and playful elements (games, art, music) that spark joy. A great third place feels like a “home away from home” where conversation is the main activity. Designers should ask, would I want to linger here for an hour or two? If yes, you’re on the right track. Don’t be afraid of a little whimsy or play – people bond over fun.

  • Keep It Affordable and Accessible: A third space isn’t truly successful if it shuts out large swaths of the public. Strive to minimize the cost of entry – that could mean providing some free programming, keeping menu prices reasonable, or, if it’s a public project, ensuring it’s ADA-accessible and welcoming to all ages. “Neutral ground” is a core tenet of true third places – anyone can walk in without feeling they need a special invite or a big wallet. Equity in third spaces is crucial – the goal is to level social playing fields, not reinforce silos.

  • Reflect Local Culture and Needs: The best third places have unique character; they grow from their community’s soil. Whether you’re an architect or a company opening a new location, do your homework on local context. Engage the community in the design process. Incorporate local art, history, or cultural touches that make people feel ownership. In 2025, cookie-cutter design won’t cut it – people are craving authentic experiences. A cafe in New Orleans should feel different from one in Seattle. Municipal projects, too, should involve public input sessions: ask residents what kind of space they need – a teen hangout? A quiet reading room? A multi-use plaza? Co-create if possible. This not only produces a more loved space, but also fosters the social bonds.

  • Plan for Serendipity: One hallmark of third places is you can come and go as you please and unexpected encounters happen. Urbanists and designers should thus plan for flow and chance meetings: sidewalks that encourage strolling, public squares at intersections, community bulletin boards where anyone can post an event. In product or app design, this might translate to digital tools that facilitate in-person meetups. Or consider architecture that blurs indoor and outdoor, making it easy to wander in. Create porous spaces that draw people in and give them reasons to stay beyond any one transaction.

Humans have an innate desire to gather. It’s not a trend, it’s a need. And if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that the craving for real connection hasn’t gone anywhere—it’s only gotten louder. We see it in the return of crowded park hangs, the rise of neighborhood co-ops and coworking hubs, the renewed magic of in-person meetups that don’t require a login. The appetite for physical third places is still there—quietly persistent, waiting to be fed. Let’s design cities and spaces where lingering is celebrated, not hurried. Here’s to the corner cafés, the strangers-turned-neighbors on park benches, and to bringing back the third places, better than ever.

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