Designing the Third Space: Why Pakistan Needs More Than Just Pretty Cafes
- Orad Works
- May 12
- 4 min read
In a fast-changing world where people are either at home or at work, what happens to everything in between? Where do we go to simply be — to think, to connect, to exist without pressure?
This is where the idea of the Third Space comes in. Originally introduced by postcolonial theorist Homi K. Bhabha, the Third Space is more than just a physical zone — it’s a mental and cultural arena. A place where identities aren’t fixed, but constantly renegotiated. A space where people of different backgrounds intersect, share, and reshape narratives together.
At ORAD, we believe this concept has never been more relevant — especially here in Pakistan, where shared spaces are scarce, class boundaries are rigid, and city life is increasingly isolating.
What is a “Third Space”?
In simple terms, a Third Space is neither home (the first space) nor work (the second space). It’s everything else in between.
Coffee shops, libraries, paddle courts, book clubs, gyms, and co-working lounges — all have the potential to become Third Spaces.
But not all of them succeed.
What defines a true Third Space is its ability to nurture identity, dialogue, and belonging. It’s less about commerce and more about connection. Less about aesthetics and more about atmosphere.
Why Third Spaces Matter in Pakistan
In Pakistan, public life is deeply fragmented — by class, gender, language, and access.
Most people either belong somewhere or they belong nowhere.Women often feel unwelcome in public spaces.Young people have few safe outlets for self-expression.And leisure — the act of simply being without economic purpose — is often seen as a luxury.
This is why the Third Space is so crucial. It provides a neutral ground. A space where people from different backgrounds can co-exist, observe each other, and engage with ideas they don’t encounter elsewhere.
And this doesn’t always require grand gestures.Sometimes, a well-designed cafe with no pressure to buy, or a public square with a single tree and a bench, can change the texture of a neighborhood.
But There’s a Catch: Commercial Spaces Masquerading as Third Spaces
Many urban spaces in Pakistan appear to be Third Spaces — but they’re often just thinly disguised commercial enterprises.
We’ve all seen them.The high-end cafes with velvet sofas but intimidating menus.The gyms that speak the language of wellness, but operate like status clubs.The co-working spaces that claim to foster community but gatekeep access through price.
The spirit of the Third Space is inclusive, not exclusive.It invites people in. It doesn’t curate them.It’s designed for humans, not just for brand photography.
How Architects Can Design Third Spaces
As architects, we aren’t just shaping walls and roofs — we’re shaping behavior, culture, and identity.
Here’s how we at ORAD approach the design of Third Spaces:
1. Porosity Over Boundaries
Third Spaces should feel open, fluid, and inviting.Think semi-permeable facades, walk-through courtyards, and front terraces that engage the street. The goal is to dissolve the sense of “inside vs. outside” and encourage casual participation.
A paddle court visible from the road invites curiosity.A library without a gate signals accessibility.
2. Flexibility Is Key
A true Third Space can be many things to many people. Design for transformation — a morning reading spot can become an art workshop in the evening. Use modular furniture, soft zoning, and multi-purpose layouts.
In Pakistan’s tight urban fabric, flexibility is not just useful — it’s essential.
3. Comfort Before Statement
You don’t need expensive finishes to make a place feel right.Natural light, ventilation, acoustic warmth, and comfortable seating do more for community than marble or chandeliers ever could.
Third Spaces thrive when people can relax without pressure. When they can be alone without feeling lonely. Together without being crowded.
4. Design for Inclusion
A Third Space should make everyone feel like they belong — regardless of their background, attire, or language.
This goes beyond ramps and bathrooms.Ask:– Can women sit here without being stared at?– Will someone without Instagram still feel comfortable?– Can elders and children navigate the space easily?
Inclusion is not a feature — it’s a foundation.
5. Cultural Layering, Not Cut-and-Paste Trends
The Third Space should reflect its context.Use local materials, reference vernacular forms, and respect climatic logic — but reinterpret them creatively.
At ORAD, we love drawing from the Pakistani urban memory — brick jaalis, concrete slabs, jhoolas, charpais, and courtyards — not nostalgically, but as living ideas that still work.
6. Economic Humility
Finally — design with grace, not greed. You don’t need a flashy budget to create a soulful space.Some of the most beloved Third Spaces in Pakistan — chai dhaabas, cricket grounds, street corners — thrive without logos, apps, or marketing.
It’s not about profit margins. It’s about participation. Design spaces where people feel invited, not extracted from.
Designing for Belonging is a Political Act
In a society where space is often contested — by gender, by class, by language — creating inclusive Third Spaces is deeply political.
When a woman feels safe to sit alone in a public cafe.When a child from a lower-income neighborhood can play sports without being excluded.When strangers talk across class lines in a shared lounge.
That’s not just design.That’s social architecture.
At ORAD, We Build Spaces for the In-Between
We’re interested in the informal, the overlooked, the transitional.Because we believe that the future of Pakistani cities will be shaped not by monumental buildings, but by everyday, human-scale spaces where people can connect, learn, pause — and become something new.
Let’s design spaces that don’t just impress.Let’s design spaces that belong to everyone.
Comentarios