Technology and Low-Income Communities:
An Interior Design Model that Fosters an Integrated Environment for
Education, Community, and Technology
One of the themes of the literature review for my thesis concentrated on the theory of "third place." Here
is a section of my thesis that highlights this topic.
Third place is defined as an informal gathering place which fosters community through
social participation. It allows for the expansion from the two-stop model of daily life in America.
Third place provides a meaningful addition to the two locations of existence from the womb
(home) to the rat race (work). Third place is a generic designation for a great variety of public
places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals
beyond the realms of home and work (Oldenburg, 1989, p. 16).
Place attachment is critical to the development of a third place. Low (1992) stated, “Place
attachment is the symbolic relationship formed by people giving culturally shared emotional/
affective meanings to a particular space or piece of land that provides the basis for the
individual’s and group’s understanding of and relation to the environment” (p. 165). Place
attachments are positive bonds to physical and social settings that support identity and provide
other psychological benefits. Place attachment has the potential to offer predictability in a daily
routine, a place to relax from more formal roles of life, and the opportunity for control in various
areas of life (Low & Altman, 1992). The social relationships that can occur in an interior space
can establish this sense of place attachment critical to human bonding. Oldenburg (2001) indicated,
“We may not need third place association to build a town hall anymore, but we sorely
need it to construct the infrastructure of human relationships” (p. 2).
This “sense of place” and the intangibles that make such a place are difficult to quantify.
The actual process of making good food and drinks is important, but in reality, it’s the
easiest part. The atmosphere, both physical and social, is the trickiest and most essential
part of creating a warm and welcoming third place. Both need constant attention and
periodic tweaking. Both show signs of neglect and fatigue immediately
(Futrell 2001, p. 29).
Although, Oldenburg (1989) asserted, “What attracts the regular visitor to a third place is
supplied not by management but by the fellow customers” (p. 33) has strong validity but it is just
one component for an inviting third place. The interior designer can play a large role in
establishing the environment that serves the community successfully. The designer must
understand the social and physical characteristics of place. According to Waxman (2006), “By
better understanding those components that contribute to positive place experiences, designers
can create spaces that promote comfort, a sense of belonging, and a bond between people and
place” (p. 38).
Cultural Comparisons
The American way of life is in stark contrast to that of many Europeans’ approaches to
the balance of personal and work lives. Whereas the typical American devotes extreme amounts
of hours to his work day and the remaining hours to home life, the French and English balance
between first, second and third places to establish a strong foundation to their lives through this
three legged place attachment. The Frenchman’s daily life sits firmly on a tripod consisting of
home, place of work, and another setting where friends are engaged during the midday, evening
aperitif hours, if not earlier and later. In the United States, the middle classes particularly are
attempting a balancing act on a bipod consisting of home and work (Oldenburg, 1989, p. 15).
Oldenburg (1989) declared, “The pub is the average Englishman’s third place. Most pubs
are built to the human scale. They are intimate, even cozy settings, designed more for an
immediate neighborhood than a horde of transients and sometime visitors” (p. 125). The corner
pub has always been the essential connection to community for the English. Although the setting
is essentially an establishment selling alcoholic beverages, its connections to the community go
beyond that beverage service. The English pub, however, has always been able to cater to those
of many walks of life residing within or passing through its locality (Oldenburg, 1989, p. 135).
Oldenburg, R. (1989). The Great Good Place, New York, NY: Paragon House.
Oldenburg, R. (2001). In R. Oldenburg (Ed.), Celebrating the Third Place, Inspiring stories
about the “Great Good Places” at the Heart of Our Communities. New York, NY:
Marlowe & Company.
Oldenburg, R. & Brissett, D. (1982). The Third Place. Qualitative Sociology Autumn (pp.
265-284) Kluwer Academic Publishing (Springer). Human Sciences Press.
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