IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

The term “third place” was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg (1999), referring to the place where people socialize in the city beyond their home (first place) and work (second place). These third places are the epicenter of public social life, one of the main ingredients of well-being and livability. With rapid technological advancements and the rise of social media, scholars have started referring to certain digital platforms as “digital third places”, since they embody many of Oldenburg’s third place characteristics. As digital life becomes increasingly central to how we interact and experience the everyday in our cities, it is becoming more important than ever to thoroughly investigate the evolving meaning of third places and how this shift might affect the future of social life in our urban environments. This investigation must also consider the place-based social and cultural dynamics that are unique to each context. This paper draws on early findings from ongoing PhD research in the context of Saudi Arabia, which is currently undergoing rapid transformations. The research explores the evolving dynamics between physical and digital third places, including how they might be competing or complementing one another, and how they are experienced and perceived by different users and experts. The ongoing research utilizes a combination of digital tools and observations, along with semi-structured interviews and discussions. The expected outcome of the overall PhD research is an original urban design and planning strategy that has the potential to offer innovative ways of thinking about livability and placemaking in the future of our cities.