Capital sees rise in urban third places

From pottery workshops to ‘paint and sip’ sessions, this was the summer people in the twin cities turned crafty, with friends and families choosing to spend quality time learning a creative skill together instead of reserving the usual lunch spot.

Every weekend came with a chance to decorate cakes, crochet flowers or even make a leather journal from scratch—and people in the city, starved for human connection in a world more digital than tangible, jumped at the opportunity of a third place.

Third places refer to communal spaces outside the usual surroundings of home and work, where people can gather and socialise in a relaxed environment. Parks, libraries and gyms are typical examples. However, in a world which has increasingly prioritised individuality over community, it is these purposefully designed creative spaces that push people to come together and interact while engaging in the process of crafting something meaningful.

Art studios, cafes and new initiatives dedicated to creative workshops, which have cropped up around town only recently, are lending to a culture of one-day, hands-on workshops. “I think people’s lives have become so devoid of interaction and just having fun that they are eager to get crafty and do things for themselves,” said BakeSpy Founder Rabbia Rohail as she adjusted the fondant branch on one her student’s mandrake cakes at the Harry Potter themed cake decorating workshop she had organised.

“We are overwhelmed by the response. People frequently reach out to us asking about when the next session is happening,” she said, adding that they will be hosting a second run of the themed workshop just to accommodate everyone who had signed up the first time around. Out of the six workshop organisers that The Express Tribune spoke to, five had only begun the initiative in late 2024 or just this year, and most of them reported having full houses with demand only growing.

“This summer has been the busiest for us, and the competition is definitely growing, but I think that’s a good sign because it means more people are seeing value in creative spaces,” said Studio A Founder Ayesha Hassan, who wanted to create a safe space for women of all ages, where art could feel approachable and inclusive. “Our main customers are women between the ages of 35 and 65 and the studio is a much-needed third place for them as it caters to their unique needs like no other space.”

Unlike padel courts, which have become popular networking sites, these workshops are largely taken up by women as a space where they can hang out and unwind, with some even calling it “therapeutic”. Even in terms of business, most of these creative initiatives are spearheaded by women, who find the workshops a great way to expand and promote their work. However, as Chaarbagh Founder Tehreem Ahmed, who exclusively hosts workshops at various eateries, pointed out, “It’s also refreshing to see men participate and express their creativity through painting, ceramics and doing crafts that are traditionally associated with women.”

Setting up canvases and paints or candle-making stations at gatherings has been a popular trend on social media for a while now, as youngsters, especially, try to make up for the experiences they may have felt robbed of during the Covid-19 lockdown. The global resurgence of crafting as a pastime and bonding activity has spread to Pakistan as well. “People are looking for unique experiences and workshops where art meets play, and self-expression is in demand,” said Meem Sheen Studio Co-founder Shizra Batool.

Businesses are catching up with this demand, as more people are now realising the value in curating experiences to gain traction. Several restaurants around the twin cities have opened up their space to workshop organisers and are offering social experiences that are more than just about food. “Groups of people coming in together are beneficial for our marketing and visibility. Serving food as part of the workshop experience also allows us to test out our menu,” said Muhammad Haider Khan, who runs Smokey Cauldron, the Harry Potter-themed restaurant in Islamabad, as he geared up to host another workshop in the upcoming weeks.