Stories
We share stories and evidence on the link between urban design and human wellbeing.
Learning from community housing movements: Transforming corridors into social spaces
Hallways, entrances, and exits are primarily designed with fire safety in mind, which can lead to long, monotonous corridors.
Learning from community housing movements: The social potential of multi-unit building lobbies
Five design strategies for transforming a lobby into an awesome social space.
Learning from community housing movements: Six principles for building happier homes
Feeling connected to our communities, neighbours, and friends is fundamental to human wellbeing. When we design buildings, sometimes we forget this.
A roof is not enough: Rapid housing solutions must prioritize dignity and trust
A modular apartment building in Vancouver shows how simple programming actions can boost residents’ health and happiness.
Can we design pandemic-proof cities?
When it comes to keeping people alive, neighbourhood design may matter much more than urban density.
We can’t solve affordability while ignoring wellbeing
Demand for great communities is pushing up prices and displacing residents. We must build more great communities.
Why math and rigid rules aren’t enough to build great cities
For every rule about good urban design, there are places that offer exceptions.
The psychological tricks designers use to make cities happier places
From rainbow crosswalks to communal herb gardens, urban planners and architects are borrowing from neuroscience to build environments that people want to work and live in
Happy City wellbeing framework: Equity
Designing cities for — and with — marginalized residents makes them work better for everyone.
Can we design more trusting public spaces?
Our research found small design changes to public space can have big impacts on social trust.
Walking is economic growth
You know walking is good for your physical health, and even your emotional wellbeing. But did you know it’s critical for the fiscal health of your city too?
Nine ways we can use the power of cities to boost happiness
We’ve gathered some of the most powerful urban happiness actions in a story for the National Post. Read the full story here.
Architecture helped me heal. So I helped create a new guide to fight loneliness
We can and must build better buildings — ones that make us healthier, happier and more socially connected.
How do you help an entire nation build happier communities?
There’s one sure way to avoid the negative effects of stressful, dangerous and disconnected communities: start using evidence to guide urban design. We’re helping the United Arab Emirates do just that.
Infusing equity into the World Happiness Report
The 2018 Global Happiness Policy Report is out. This time, the report contains practical solutions for governments and cities interested in boosting wellbeing.
Tackling the crisis of social disconnection
Social wellbeing matters. Feelings of belonging and connection to other people and community are essential elements of human health and happiness.