Why Cities Need Third Places

Home is often described as the first place and work as the second. Third places are the informal settings in between: cafés, libraries, parks, community centres, and other spaces where people can spend time without a formal invitation. Their value lies not only in recreation but also in the weak social ties they help residents form.

家常被称为第一空间，工作场所则是第二空间。第三空间是介于两者之间的非正式场所，例如咖啡馆、图书馆、公园和社区中心，人们无需正式邀请就能在那里停留。它们的价值不仅在于休闲，也在于帮助居民建立较弱但广泛的社会联系。

However, simply building an attractive square does not guarantee social connection. A successful third place must be easy to reach, affordable to use, and comfortable for different age groups. City planners therefore need to consider who feels welcome, who is excluded, and whether people are allowed to stay without being expected to buy something.

然而，仅仅建造一个漂亮的广场并不能保证社会连接。成功的第三空间必须交通便利、使用成本低，并让不同年龄层都感到舒适。因此，城市规划者需要考虑谁感到受欢迎、谁被排除在外，以及人们是否可以在不被要求消费的情况下停留。