How to reconcile Masjid al-haram rules with daily rules?

I was watching this talk on TED, the guy says many things, including that in masjid al-haram, men and women are mixed and pray together and there is no separation between men and women, but outside in the city even in a fast food they are separated. How would we answer this paradox in Islamic rules? In Allah's house we are together and outside we are separated...