Diagrammatic translation of ‘Third Space’ Theory by Edward Soja_©Author
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Diagrammatic translation of ‘Third Space’ Theory by Edward Soja_©Author
Third places act as a core setting for informal public life, offering connection, community, and sociability. (Ray Oldenburg, The Great Good Place)
The need to step outside structured spaces is becoming increasingly important, to create room for curiosity, experimentation, and more organic ways of being together. While cities often provide easy access to places for connection, exploration, and a sense of belonging, opportunities in rural areas are different, where finding a creative space to meet, share, and exchange may require traveling many kilometers. Agricultural third places profile make them essential not only for people already living in the area but also for those who wish to leave the city, yet worry that they will lose open, creative, and supportive spaces once they move.
The Southern Lights Farm sets as an open, educational hub for the wider community, welcoming and hosting people from across Greece and beyond. The energy of the place, its atmosphere and activities, are clearly shaped by the people who bring the space to life in each moment. The experimental nature of the farm creates room to try, succeed, fail, and evolve, both individually and collectively. By opening the farm to the public and encouraging gatherings and shared work, we believe it plays an essential role within the rural landscape in which it is rooted.
The activities that we do:
Depending on geography, culture, and the way people live, relate, and connect, Third Places take many different forms. In Greece, eco-projects have emerged as agricultural Third Places, focusing on farming, regeneration, sustainability, self-sufficiency, and land stewardship. We are fortunate to know many inspiring examples not only across Greece but also throughout Europe, taking diverse shapes, from temporary occupation spaces to buildings shared by multiple collectives.Â
Most agricultural third places in Greece are rooted in farms where eco projects begin and gradually grow into vibrant community hubs. Located mainly in rural areas, they focus on producing their own food and adopting environmentally friendly energy solutions, while also promoting regeneration and encouraging people to reconnect with nature. These places are closely tied to their bioregions, yet they remain diverse, shaped by the particular landscape they belong to, the central themes they promote, and the activities they organize. Some emphasize farming and agroecology, others education and training, while many also integrate cultural events, ecological tourism, or artistic expression as ways to engage people and strengthen community bonds.
At the same time, agricultural third places go beyond food production, they create spaces for collaboration where farmers, researchers, citizens, and different stakeholders can come together to share knowledge and ideas.
Out of the need of overcoming common challenges, support each other and share knowledge and techniques, we built the eco-projects network to unite and support people in Greece and beyond, who are actively contributing to a change toward regenerative practices.
Through regular meetings, we build trust among each other, when for enhacing projects accessibility to the public we set up a map, where project can register and provide information to the public. New projects are welcome to join! More information about the eco-project network here.
Across Europe, Third Places take many different forms, shaped by the social, cultural, economic, and geographic realities of each country and region. In some contexts, national or local regulations create more supportive environments for Third Places to emerge and grow, while in other, such us in cities facing housing emergencies, temporary occupation of buildings becomes a necessary response to the need. Municipalities and local actors play a central role in these processes: in some cases, large industrial buildings are repurposed into Third Places with public support and funding, while in others, organizations must independently rent spaces or exchange maintenance and care in order to keep them usable and alive.
Our trip to the “Third Places for Europe” conference in France, where our Director Sheila participated, was the initiative point to build bridges with different Third Places networks in Europe.
Three organizations, each of them part of different Third Place networks, the Association Nationale des Tiers-Lieux in France, Communa in Belgium, and The Southern Lights in Greece are collaborating to foster knowledge exchange, collective problem-solving, and mutual growth.
14-17 January 2025
The visit aimed to deepen our understanding of how third places are organised, supported, and embedded in public policy in France, while fostering dialogue between practitioners, users, regional networks, and public institutions.
23-25 April 2025
The visit aimed to provide the partners with a direct insight into the everyday functioning of temporary occupation and user-led spaces. These visits were complemented by discussions with institutional, academic, and municipal actors, offering a multi-level perspective on public policies related to temporary use.
04-06 June 2025
Through visiting rural and urban third places from Athens to Laconia, we worked collectively to identify key needs, difficulties, and opportunities for agricultural third places in Greece, while reflecting on governance, sustainability, and advocacy.
29-31 October 2025
We participated in the GSEF 2025 Forum in Bordeaux as partners of Third Places networks to connect our work with the wider Social and Solidarity Economy ecosystem. The conference offered a key space to exchange practices, build international partnerships, and engage with local authorities and networks working on inclusive territorial development. It allowed us to position Third Places as drivers of social innovation, community resilience, and democratic governance. Our participation strengthened strategic links that support the long-term development and visibility of Third Places initiatives.
What are the Third Places and why the are so important? What is their historical Power? What Happened To Third Places?
A comparative study of EU Third Places: The diversity through different examples, citizens engagement and support social cohesion
Explore the importance of informal public spaces that foster community, conversation, and social connection beyond home and work.
