Qualitative study examines how Starbucks functions as a third place, revealing shifts in public and private space use.
Key Points
This study aims to explore how domestic activities traditionally confined to private homes are re-enacted within third places like Starbucks in urban China.
Adopted a qualitative single-case design with two subcases: a campus store and a community store.
Utilized ethnographic observations and interviews to analyze the settings.
Guided by theories such as Baudrillard’s hyperreality and Deleuze and Guattari’s assemblage framework.
Starbucks' design and service features create homelike environments that blur the boundaries between public and private.
Identified counter-practices that emerge in these settings, providing comfort and social interaction for individuals with limited private space.
Demonstrated critical shifts in the use of public space, impacting social interactions and urban governance.