What are Spaces for Life or third spaces ?
Third spaces can be collective farms, cooperative event venue spaces, territorial hubs & living labs. With a "for-the-living" purpose. Usually combining various layers of life and multiple activity sectors. They serve as incubators and showcases for creative ways to tackle some of the key challenges of our times.
Living at or simply visiting such a space can be source of inspiration and hope that collective action and social innovation do have impact.
Ingredients of Spaces for Life
Rehabilitating land real-estate, creating new territorial functions and socio-economic opportunities
These projects are rooted in the tangible value of land — a foundation for long-term resilience and regeneration. By investing in physical space, it creates an anchor for productive, ecological, and social activity. The land itself becomes both a living asset and a shared platform for innovation and community life.
By combining productive, residential, and cultural functions, the site becomes a vibrant ecosystem of activities and relationships. Each feature reinforces the others, creating synergies between ecology, economy, and community. This diversity ensures resilience — social, environmental, and financial — while enriching daily life for everyone involved.
Economic vitality is ensured through diversified revenue streams and circular models that reinvest profits locally. These projects support entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, generating stable returns while respecting environmental limits. Prosperity is measured not only by financial growth but also by the well-being and empowerment of all stakeholders.
Its influence extends beyond property boundaries, regenerating the broader landscape and strengthening regional resilience. The project contributes to biodiversity, food security, and cultural vitality within its surrounding territory. It acts as a catalyst for sustainable land-use practices and inclusive local development.
Guided by stewards rather than extractive ownership, the initiative fosters long-term care, transparency, and shared governance. Local communities play an active role in shaping decisions, ensuring that development aligns with their values and aspirations. This approach transforms ownership into stewardship — a collective commitment to nurture both land and people.
The project serves as a bridge between local traditions and global innovation, welcoming diverse perspectives and expertise. It leverages technology to enhance transparency, collaboration, and ecological efficiency. By remaining open and connected, it becomes a living laboratory for knowledge exchange and cross-cultural engagement.
Iconic Spaces for Life
this is only a small selection of some of our favourite projects in Europe
Chateau du Feÿ
France
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Traditional Dream Factory
Portugal
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La Préale
Belgium
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Tilal Utique
Tunisia
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Monviso
Italy
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Basis Winschgau
Italy
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Selgars Mill
United Kingdom
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L'Arbre qui Pousse
Belgium
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Écovillage de Pourgues
France
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Hôtel Pasteur
France
Moos
Germany
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Domaine Saint-Roch
Belgium
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Wir bauen Zukunft
Germany
Life Itself
France
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L'Hermitage tiers-lieux
France
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La Vigotte
France
Hameau de Montrieux
France
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Maison Glaz
France
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Sargfabrik
Austria
Kalkbreite
Switzerland
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Not Quite
Sweden
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Spaces For Life create regenerative impact
Living Soils
Regenerating land and capturing carbon as the foundation for thriving communities.
Harbours of Belonging
Creating safe, inclusive spaces that strengthen social cohesion and nurture new narratives.
Harbours of Belonging
Creating safe, inclusive spaces that strengthen social cohesion and nurture new narratives.
Commons of Life
Empowering citizens and fostering participatory democracy through shared stewardship.
Roots of Resilience
Revitalising rural territories and making them resilient, autonomous, and future-proof.
Weaving
Connecting public, private and civic actors into bioregional networks for collective flourishing.
Territories of Tomorrow
Strengthening regions by aligning ecology, economy, and culture for a post-growth world.
The Spaces for Life Collective
At the conference we would love to create a new advisory collective that acts across Europe as a consulting agency, supporting the emergence of more successful third spaces.
Contact the organisers directly, or speak to us at the conference. We will host a specific session on this topic.
The Team
Swarming utopian pragmatism
We have been involved for a decade in this field, in various roles and with a track-record of successfully launching, managing and consulting projects across Europe.
