LAUNCH OF THE GUIDE “CREATING A THIRD PLACE IN A HISTORIC BUILDING”

A New Tool for Reimagining Heritage: Launch of the Guide “Creating Third Places in Historic Buildings”

On July 1, 2025, at Village Reille, Plateau Urbain was pleased to host the launch of the guide “Creating Third Places in Heritage Buildings.”

Intended for project leaders, elected officials, and local governments, this guide offers clear and adaptable approaches, informed by real-world experiences, to support the conversion of heritage monuments with a focus on diversifying activities and fostering community ties.

Operational method sheets cover the major stages of a project:

• What assessments (architectural, regional) should be conducted before revitalizing a building?
• How should programming be designed to align with the region’s needs?
• What project team should be assembled, with which stakeholders and what governance structure?
• How can we innovate within the regulatory framework?
• What economic balances must be found to build a sustainable model?

These methods are put into perspective through case studies of four iconic projects:

• The Clarisse Convent in Roubaix
• The Hôtel Pasteur in Rennes
• The Palais Penitentiary Colony in Belle-Île-en-Mer
• The Château de Jossigny in Seine-et-Marne

Each of these sites embodies a unique configuration—heritage status, temporality (permanent, temporary, or planned), governance, and economic model—and thus offers a rich array of lessons for other initiatives.

👉 This initiative, unprecedented in its collective and pragmatic approach, aligns with the Ministry of Culture’s current policies promoting the repurposing of heritage buildings. It illustrates a commitment to fostering innovative uses that balance building preservation, accessibility to new audiences, and integration into local life.

Co-led by France Tiers-lieux and the École de Chaillot as part of the “Reinventing Heritage” program, the guide was written with contributions from heritage architects (Philippe Prost, Charlotte Vergely, Charlotte Duvernoy, Solenne Blondet) and third-place operators, including Plateau Urbain, Sophie Ricard, Simon Givelet, and the Propice association.