| Title |
Complex Cultural Spaces in Urban Parks as Third Places |
| Authors |
김유진(Kim, Yu-Jin) ; 황연숙(Hwang, Yeon-Sook) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.14774/JKIID.2026.35.2.041 |
| Keywords |
Third Place; Complex Cultural Space in Urban Park; Book Shelter in Park |
| Abstract |
In contemporary society, direct social interaction has declined due to social and demographic changes and the normalization of digitally mediated communication. Accordingly, public spaces are increasingly required to function as third places that mediate interpersonal interaction and support emotional stability and recovery. The purpose of this study is to analyze five cases of book shelters developed as cultural complex spaces in urban parks through the “Book Shelter in Seoul Parks”, focusing on urban parks as representative third places. The findings are as follows: First, based on a review of previous studies, spatial characteristics of complex cultural spaces were categorized into spatial configuration characteristics?accessibility, openness, and diversity?and spatial experience characteristics ?interaction, stability, and playfulness. These findings indicate that, as a complex concept encompassing both physical and non-physical characteristics, Third Place requires integrated spatial planning that structurally combines spatial configuration and spatial experience characteristics. Second, for complex cultural spaces in urban parks to function as Third Places, they should be planned in relation to the park’s physical environment, to establish a transitional spatial structure that connects and extends park usage flows. Third, for complex cultural spaces in urban parks to function as Third Places in terms of spatial experience, spatial strategies are required to enable programs and activities linked to the park’s natural environment to extend beyond one-time participation into repeated use and relationship formation. Fourth, as the concept of the Third Place has expanded the scope of social interaction through digital technologies, digital elements that encourage users’ voluntary exploration and participation should be incorporated. This study examines complex cultural spaces in urban parks from a Third Place perspective and proposes spatial planning and design strategies to enhance their role in fostering social interaction. Future research should incorporate behavioral observation, in-depth interviews, and surveys to strengthen empirical validation. |