According to the sociologist Ray Oldenburg, the first space for most people is their private home, the second is their work space and the third is an indispensable space for a fulfilled life. Oldenburg names coffee houses, pubs and beer gardens as a model for third spaces where communication and social interaction is allowed and encouraged among equals in a freely accessible space, primarily to release stress in order to balance work and family life. In cultural policy, many currently see the potential for such third spaces in museums, as a “home away from home” living spaces.
Danae Yolanda Diettrich, 2022
I believe that the time I spent at the V&A Museum was what formed my connection to museum spaces the most. Despite enjoying their various exhibitions while appreciating their architecture and brand design, along with their services including the museum shop, café, interactive programs, social media posts and online learning and everything else that makes a museum - what made me feel home was the free space they offered. A space filled with flowers, greens and water; an enclosed sanctuary away from the busy streets of London, a space where I always felt welcomed.
I would love museums as a third space to be an intrinsic part of what museums are. I would also love to imagine a future where it is common for museums to offer a safe haven, an oasis of relaxation where museums don’t exclude but actively invite the people into their space.