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Individuals like groups or organizations in conflict find themselves separated by the front lines. A no‐man's‐land comes between territories that became impenetrable, each person being banned from a stay in the other's space. For example, two departments in a quarrel within the same company are situated at two different sites; no one goes to the offices of the other “camp” anymore. A few meters suffice to raise a wall of separation. Colleagues in conflict, although separated by only one floor, may lack a neutral space to speak with one another safely.

In all these cases, faced with protagonists refusing “to go” to the space of the other party, the mediator offers a suitable neutral space for the meeting. This place materializes if the parties accept to physically meet: the mediator suggests an office, a cafeteria, a table surrounded by comfortable chairs, a discreet hotel in a neighboring nation, Geneva, etc. or any other favorable location (cf., on this logistic aspect, Chapter 4 on mediation preparation). Mediation often assumes the careful choice and preparation of a meeting space that parties lack.

In some cases, this suitable space may be symbolic. The parties refuse to meet or are not financially able to do it; in this case, the mediator acts as the shuttle between them, carrying messages from one side to the other so that the exchange continues.