Canada is spending millions on an ambitious affordable housing program. If we design right, we can solve the affordability crisis and the social disconnection crisis at the same time! Crucial lessons from @happycities.com for Minister @gregorrobertson.bsky.social happycities.com/blog/afforda...

The 44th Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off today! We're excited to be sponsoring a series of short films at #VIFF2025, portraying snapshots of daily life from cities around the world. We hope to see you there! Learn more & get tickets: viff.org/whats-on/vif...

A thriving arts & culture scene contributes to healthy, vibrant communities 🎥 The 44th Vancouver International Film Festival is on from Oct 2–12. We're excited to be helping to support #VIFF2025. Check out the lineup of 172+ feature films, 97 shorts, and 128+ premieres! Details: viff.org/festival

"More than just a way to address social isolation and remedy cultural disconnection, [Vancouver's] plazas could become a blueprint for more people-friendly outdoor infrastructure." vancouversun.com/news/local-n...

How we design better neighbourhoods for aging communities? We're excited to share an updated version of our dementia-inclusive planning and design guidelines, this time with a broader focus on age-friendly communities 👪 Learn more: happycities.com/blog/new-gui...

What makes some spaces feel safer than others? The answer might be simpler than you think. Read about the power of placemaking to nurture safer community spaces: mailchi.mp/happycities/...

What makes a street feel safe and welcoming? In Surrey, Canada, placemaking helped a community rebuild its sense of safety after a tragic loss—showing that even simple changes can have a big impact. Read the full story: happycities.com/blog/surrey-...

Social spaces are just as important as water and electricity for healthy, resilient communities. Why don't we provide them with the same consistency? Our latest story makes the case for a more rigorous approach to social infrastructure: happycities.com/blog/the-cas...

Like trees in a forest, we are healthier when old and young live together and exchange energy with one another. Beautiful essay by Tessa McWatt: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/2d66089...

People feel less lonely in buildings that invite neighbours to connect. Whether a cozy seating nook next to an apartment hallway or a shared courtyard, the homes we live in can help fight social isolation and build more connected, resilient communities: www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...

Our hearts go out to everyone—people, families, and Filipino community members—affected by the devastating tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day celebration in Vancouver this past weekend.

I love this story on building age-friendly housing from Michelle Gagnon-Creeley on the team at @happycities.com Deeply moving, and also very practical! happycities.com/blog/what-ma...

What kind of home do you envision for yourself as you grow older? Our latest story shares four strategies for age-friendly homes (drawing on our work with @heyneighbourcollective.ca): happycities.com/blog/what-ma...

We recently joined Cities for Everyone w/ @penalosag.bsky.social to explore the power of #placemaking for happier, healthier, more inclusive communities ✨ Watch here for the full recording, with inspiring stories, free resources, and evidence: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cin2...

What makes an age-friendly home? Our latest newsletter explores: mailchi.mp/happycities/... As always, you can join us here! happycities.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

The housing crisis and the loneliness crisis can be solved at the same time: Modular construction Canadian wood Pro-social designs Faster approvals for market + nonmarket supply @happycities.com Madeleine Herbert joins experts in Dan Fumano's excellent story: vancouversun.com/business/rea...

Yes, apartment buildings can be designed in ways that are BETTER for children and seniors than detached homes. Another banger from @happycities.com This one includes a link to the age-friendly housing design toolkit. mailchi.mp/happycities/...

Socially connected homes not only connect us with neighbours—they offer private, comfortable places to recharge. Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to design social homes: happycities.com/building-soc... 📸 Driftwood Village Cohousing (Cornerstone Architecture)

Honoured to see our founder @charlesincities.bsky.social, on the @vancouvermagazine.bsky.social Power 50 list, along with some of our heroes—Leslie Shieh, Mark Shieh, Marianne Amodio—for their impactful work on building happier, more socially connected homes: www.vanmag.com/city/power-5...

Apartment amenity rooms & lounges often sit vacant, used only for special events. This one shows a more social alternative: Download our housing design toolkit with @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc... 📸 Marmalade Lane Cohousing (David Butler / Mole Architects)

I have some thoughts 👇 Supportive housing exists because our systems sometimes fail people. It’s the solution, not the problem. And we need more of it. A lot more. vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Join Mitchell Reardon from Happy Cities in LA next week to discuss the future of transportation! Hosted by @pepperdine.bsky.social publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/events/2024/...

Can the place where we hang clothes also be a place to hang out? Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more! happycities.com/building-soc... 📸 Bayview Hill Gardens, San Francisco, CA (Matt Edge / David Baker Architects)

Video is up for Placemaking & Happier Cities. Watch: bit.ly/4h4W2l5 Next #Cities4Everyone session: THE BEST CLIMATE ACTIVIST IS A GOOD URBAN PLANNER, my guest, Hélène Chartier. FREE. Register now: bit.ly/4g6RWZ1 Tue. Feb. 4 at 11am EST/5pm CET

Thank you for having us, @penalosag.bsky.social!

4/The least we can do is facilitate spaces that allow people to connect if they want to. Based on work from @happycities.com, Port Moody launched social wellbeing design guidelines that incentivize developers to include social spaces in multiunit buildings. happycities.com/projects/por...

Great article in the Globe about the decline of neighbourliness, how some communities are contradicting the trend, and the role both public and private space design play in facilitating connections...with a guest star appearance by @happycities.com 🧵 www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

The time Canadians spend with their neighbours has been shrinking. We're part of a movement to buck the trend, growing even closer since the pandemic. Join us! @globeandmail www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

On now! @happycities.com with @penalosag.bsky.social on using evidence to create happier, healthier places Listen here…

Join us on Tuesday to talk placemaking and happier communities! This webinar is free for all to attend.

Lobbies often feel uninviting and empty, used only to pick up mail. Can they become more than that? Download our new housing design toolkit with @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to design social lobbies: happycities.com/building-soc...

Tomorrow! Explore design & policy for healthier, more inclusive, connected housing communities at a free webinar with the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. This session will share our Building Social Connections toolkit, released together w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca

What keeps you joyful and motivated in the face of big challenges? As our team starts to wind down for the holidays, we reflected on the big and small wins that keep us energized to do more. Check out our last newsletter of 2024 for holiday tunes, reads, and causes: mailchi.mp/happycities/...

Here's the holiday playlist from the @happycities.com team. Enjoy! open.spotify.com/playlist/4qC...

What does a welcoming entrance look like? Many people cross paths going in and out of an apartment building. But it's not often they stop to chat. Social design features can help. Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...

Can hallways be more than just a means to get to and from your front door? This cozy elevator nook at Little Mountain Cohousing says yes. Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to create more social circulation spaces: happycities.com/building-soc...

Looking forward to this conversation about ways that our #builtenvironment can positively impact levels of #socialconnection in communities. I'll focus my comments on #housing, particularly exploring work that we have been doing with @happycities.com and local governments in BC.

Do balconies really matter for wellbeing? People are unlikely to use balconies that are too small or exposed. We’ve identified design strategies for more social balconies, connecting neighbours to each other—& their community. Learn more: happycities.com/building-soc... @heyneighbour.bsky.social

With backyards increasingly out of reach, how can we ensure everyone gets access to green space in the city? The answer, says Happy Cities' Madeleine Herbert, is more creative sharing. @happycities.com @theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Happy Cities newsletter is out! Big evidence and stories on how we can reduce loneliness in cities through design. @happycities.com

What makes a great courtyard? Explore our new #housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbour.bsky.social to learn more about how to create social outdoor spaces 🌱 Download the free toolkit today! happycities.com/building-soc...

It's a GOOD THING when urban planning shows up in a story about ending loneliness over the holidays! We really can design our communities to nurture social connections. Nice work @happycities.com

Food and urban planning have something unexpected in common: They both have the power to bring people together. Read more about loneliness, food, and placemaking in the November issue of Bon Appétit! Featuring work by our team: www.bonappetit.com/story/loneli...

Just about this time last year, was the 10 year anniversary of Happy City, the book that started it all! I wrote an article last year recounting my rollercoaster journey that led me to find Happy Cities. The book changed my life, here’s how: happycities.com/blog/10-year...

HNC is grateful to joining our colleagues at #HousingCentral this week - be on the lookout for our session with @happycities.com on Wednesday, 11/20 at 12:30 PM, Pavillion D! 🫧

Building secure, comfortable, and accessible spaces for bicycles not only encourages people to get on their bikes, but it also has the added benefit of encouraging social connection! Check out the toolkit we've put together with @happycities.com to learn more. 🚲

Multi-unit homes really can be built to encourage social interaction! Trailblazing work by Happy Cities Team and Placemakers Hesam Deihimi and City of Port Moody.

Hey Bluesky! Here for evidence-based solutions on design + human wellbeing. 🌇 I'm the author of Happy City and co-founder of the interdisciplinary team at Happy Cities. My next book digs into ways we can design the world to rebuild social trust. I'm excited to learn from you all.🌱🌃🌈

Can spaces for bicycles also be spaces for social interaction? This bike room offers easy access to the street, with large windows & openings to the lobby. Why is it so effective? Download our new housing design toolkit with Hey Neighbour Collective to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...