KMB 2025-Artroom-BUILDING THIRD SPACES -- A Collaborative Workshop on Creating Shared Community Spaces
Kochi / March 16, 2026
Kochi, Mar 16: A collaborative workshop, titled Building Third Spaces, was held at ABC Art Room, Bastion Bungalow, focusing on understanding and creating meaningful shared community spaces in a society increasingly characterized by walled and private environments.
Geo P George and John Sajan, the facilitators of the workshop, noted that contemporary society has more enclosed spaces and fewer shared environments, resulting in a growing sense of disconnection that contributes to psychological, social, and physiological distress. They emphasized the importance of building shared spaces that foster belonging and collective engagement.
The workshop, part of the outreach programme of the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) was conducted in a structured, step-by-step format. The facilitators explained that the first session introduced participants to the concept of “third spaces” and examined the core tenets involved in building such spaces. The second session was designed as a collaborative experience, where participants simulated the process of conceptualising and improving a third space.
The facilitators explained that belonging is often perceived merely as a behavioural outcome shaped by familiarity among people. However, they underlined that the spaces where people meet are equally important in shaping belonging. The workshop sought to translate this idea by examining how third spaces are built and how they influence community formation.
Around 25 participants attended the session, including lawyers, designers, policymakers, architects, and psychologists.
Referring to the Biennale platform, George and Sajan observed that it provides opportunities for like-minded individuals with uncommon shared interests to connect, engage in discussions, and build communities around those interests.
They also noted that while some participants expected an art-based outcome, the workshop evolved as an intellectual engagement, demonstrating that such platforms can also accommodate reflective and idea-driven session.
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