The Extracurricular as an Institutional Third Space

Cristina Mateo, Essay, expanding design practices, IE, No Density, Politics and economics

Architect’s role, Community, COVID-19, Design, Digital era, Education, Essay, Global Awareness, Interaction, Learning, Network, New technologies, New urban lifestyles, Resilience, Social dynamics, Spain, Sustainable, User’s experience

Take your average university day in early spring this year. Yes, it was completely different from today’s. Then, university life consisted of curricular and extracurricular activities, which took place in different venues within the campus: studios, lecture halls, the library… as well as the in-between spaces such as the canteen, benches, and the many other public places we use to relax and recharge our batteries with other people. What’s more, research shows that active learning occurs outside the classroom settings, in informal, ad hoc, spaces (Journal of Facilities Management, 2012).