Reclaiming Third Spaces: Gender, Agency, and Public Life in Tirana

Ashique Mohammad — Founder, The Third Space

Elizabeth Schenker — Researcher, Land Tenure and Human Rights

At FABER Forum 2025, Ashique Mohammad and Elizabeth Schenker delivered a compelling exploration of how public life in Tirana is shaped by the presence — or absence — of meaningful shared spaces.

Focusing on the concept of “third spaces” — the places outside of home and work where people gather, interact, and build a sense of community — they examined how these environments influence gender dynamics, social agency, and everyday urban experience.

Their talk highlighted how access to public and semi-public spaces is deeply unequal, often shaped by gender, safety, visibility, and informal power structures. Through their analysis, they revealed how urban design and cultural norms can either open doors to inclusion or quietly reinforce exclusion.

By bringing attention to who feels welcome, who feels visible, and who feels safe, their lecture challenged participants to rethink how cities can actively create environments where all voices and bodies can belong.