The Influence of “Third Places” on The Quality of the Public Domain

Abstract

The attractiveness of public spaces depends on many factors. Both physical components, functional and spatial solutions as well as the number and variety of activities of people using them are significant. However, one of the most important roles of public spaces is to enable user integration and interaction — the existence of the so-called sphere of the “public domain” by facilitating establishing relationships between people. These relationships can be varied and determined among others by the length and type of contact between people, but also by the distance between the users. The greater the possibility of a deeper relationship, the more the quality of the “public domain” increases. Certain places with specific features give such an opportunity. They are so-called “third places”. They are informal public gathering places where people can interact and socialize. Care for the high level of the “public domain” and the broadly understood attractiveness of public spaces is important because it allows to increase the inhabitants’ quality of life. This fact, in turn, may also have a direct impact on the growth of the value of a given space both in the social, economic as well as cultural and political context. This article is intended to bring closer the types of interpersonal contacts occurring in the public space as well as different ways of their qualification. Above all, the basic aim of the work is to familiarize readers with the idea of “third places” and to present the possibilities of increasing the quality of the “public domain” both inside the buildings and between them.