MPhil/PhD Upgrade Seminar: Ahmed Jawdat

The term “third place” was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg (1999), referring to the place where people socialise in the city beyond their home (first place) and work (second place). These third places are the epicentre of public social life and interactions, crucial to well-being. “Placemaking” discourse has also emphasised social interactions as one of its key aims. With the rise of social media, scholars have argued that it could be a form of a “digital third place” (Digital-TP) since it embodies most of Oldenburg’s third place characteristics. As technology and Digital-TPs evolve, it is essential to understand their impact on our “physical third places” (Physical-TP) and their potential opportunities in urban design and planning. This research uses Saudi Arabia as the main context of investigation.

Since oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938, cities across the country have undergone significant transformations. Imported development schemes, such as Dhahran’s Aramco camp in 1939 (Al-Naim, 2008) and the car-centric Doxiades plan of Riyadh in 1968 (Elsheshtawi, 2022), influenced design and planning across major cities, resulting in modern neighbourhoods with limited “third places” that do not meet Oldenburg’s principles. However, the last seven years have seen significant shifts and reforms under Saudi Vision 2030, driving a new era of cultural and urban transformations. Key vision initiatives include the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism, highlighting six core values including: “authenticity”; understood as environments that belong “physically and emotionally to the place” (Architecture and Design Commission, 2022). Notably, recent years have seen an increase in public social life, both “physically” and “digitally”. In certain cases, the integration of both realms is driven by “authenticity”.

This research will investigate the connection between Physical-TPs, Digital-TPs, and emerging technologies and how they can be strategically integrated to promote “physical” social interactions and innovative placemaking strategies in Saudi neighbourhoods. To achieve this, a mixed-method approach will be used. The empirical part of the study will involve digital surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and digital and physical observations. The research will conclude with the development of an urban design and planning strategy, which practitioners, decision-makers, and researchers can utilise.

Image Caption: Collage image showcasing AlJadidah district in AlUla, Saudi Arabia with an overlay of people interacting with the third place physically and digitally. Background Image is taken in January 2023, and the people sketched are generated using DALLE.E AI software.

Supervisors: Dr Susan Moore (BSP), Professor Peter Bishop (BSA) and Professor Andy Hudson-Smith (CASA)
Upgrade Panel members: Professor Mathew Carmona (BSP), and Professor Peter Bishop (BSA)