A Listening Room in Munich for a Restless Urban Society

A tiny kiosk of a building is open in Munich – not for consumption or business, but simply for listening. “Deep Listeners” welcome passers-by to do “nothing more and nothing less than to start a conversation.” A listener’s business card reads: “We’re listening. Everybody’s story. Every joy. Every sorrow. Every human being.” It is yet another form of what is known as a “third place,” easily accessible physical locations where people can spontaneously interact. These places are increasingly harder to find in cities focused on speed, consumption, and optimization. Advocates hope for more listening places. As one said, “Beyond paying attention, it is about a holistic perception that evolves into a form of empathy that is connected to meaningful hearing. Listening means taking time for the other and giving space.”

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