On October 11–12, 2024, Terceiros Lugares LX24 brought together experts, policymakers, and enthusiasts to explore the transformative power of third places—community-driven spaces that foster connection and local innovation. Hosted at the Faculty of Architecture and Jardins do Bombarda in Lisbon, the event featured inspiring lectures, hands-on workshops, and case studies from Portugal and beyond.

Levente Polyák of Eutropian, joined friends from Largo Residências, Placemaking Europe and Plateau Urbain, and shared insights on building collaborative ecosystems around third places as social infrastructure, emphasizing solidarity, social services, and mental health.

The workshop, led by Levente at Jardins do Bombarda, allowed participants to deeply engage with the transformation of this former psychiatric hospital into a vibrant cultural and community center. The session focused on creating new connections with neighborhood organizations and emphasized solidarity economy, social services, and mental health initiatives as key pillars of third places.

Organized by Largo Residências and supported by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon, República Portuguesa – Cultura/Direção-Geral das Artes, and the Lisbon City Council, this two-day event highlighted the challenges and opportunities of bottom-up initiatives to create vibrant, inclusive third places.