Public space is a setting than a backdrop, where social interaction occurs as a dialog communication in a city. The city is entertained by the presence of the street hawkers, which show a connection between the primary and the supporter. This connection does not only link to serve daily needs but also the use of spatiality. Jakarta is a capital city with many functions, one of them is as the commercial area. This study aims to show the idea of space mechanism by analyzing the transformation of space into thirdspace that is portrayed on the street hawkers in the sidewalk next to the MRT station in Jakarta. This study reveals the existence of binary opposition as the presence-absence in the public space. It happened as the result of negotiation done by the street hawkers through some factors, such as visibility, mobility, and pedestrian flows. The presence of street hawkers will support the development of social life according to the aspects of the smart city. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.