THE 3RD PLACE

‘The 3rd Place’ is a creative space that sits somewhere between home and work—a place where people can show up, make things, and feel part of something. It brings the old Reservoir Library back to life as a mix of genuinely affordable artist studios and a shared “Village Square” where locals, freelancers, and young creatives can gather, collaborate, or simply spend time around other people doing their thing. By keeping the studios accessible, the project supports artists who are often priced out of dedicated workspaces, giving them a stable base to create and sustain their practice.

At its heart, it’s about creating a space that feels open and lived-in—somewhere you can drop in without needing permission, where creativity isn’t hidden behind closed doors, and where the act of making becomes visible and shared. The presence of working artists in a space like this doesn’t just benefit the individuals—it has a wider ripple effect. Artists are often the first to bring life back into underused areas, and over time their activity draws in energy, interest, and connection, helping to kickstart broader precinct activation in a way that feels organic rather than imposed.

It’s just as much about the in-between moments as it is about the work itself: the casual conversations, the chance encounters, the quiet sense of being surrounded by others who are also trying to build something. Over time, those small interactions form a culture—one that supports people not just professionally, but socially and emotionally as well.

The project is also about reactivating a building that already belongs to the community, and letting it serve that role again in a way that feels relevant now. By keeping the structure largely intact and filling it with activity, The 3rd Place continues the library’s legacy as a place of shared knowledge and access—only this time through making, doing, and connecting. It’s a simple idea: give people space, keep it affordable, and something meaningful starts to happen.