Where Do You Hang Out with Friends?
Realize it or not, the places you spend time in affect your social health.
Earlier this month, the Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto was awarded the highest honor in his field, the Pritzker Prize. What set him apart from his contemporaries, you might wonder? Designing for human connection.
“The community is the most important thing,” he says.
Yamamoto employs the insight that the physical places in which we live, work, and play influence how connected we feel—and when we feel connected, we live happier, healthier, longer lives. That’s the power of thoughtfully designed buildings and communities.
This topic has fascinated me since grad school, when I collaborated with Dr. Ichiro Kawachi to summarize the research in a textbook chapter called Social Capital and Community Design (email me for the PDF). For instance, one way the built environment facilitates interaction is through what’s known as “third places.” Whereas “first places” are homes and “second places” are workplaces or schools, third places are shared gathering spaces like parks and coffee shops where we can hang out with friends, family, and neighbors.
To have a socially healthy culture, we need third places that are inviting, well-maintained, and utilized by community members.
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I recently sat down with Verywell Mind to discuss this topic. With loneliness getting a lot of attention as a public health issue these days, the time is right to invest in shared spaces—and to make sure they are brought to life through activities and programming. Read the article here.
I also spoke with NPR about a related topic. Studies have shown that living alone puts you at greater risk of feeling depressed and lonely—but this can be prevented by spending time with people in other ways and feeling supported. For people who live alone, third places are especially important. Listen to the NPR conversation here.
If this topic has piqued your interest, also check out:
The book Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg
The report How the Built Environment Can Foster Social Health by Erin Peavey
Research by Thomas Astell-Burt at the University of Sydney
My forthcoming book, which includes stories of inspiring neighbors who transformed shared spaces to bring their communities together.
If you have another recommendation, leave it in the comments for others to discover! And feel free to share: what’s the best example you’ve seen of a place that connects people?
You’re Invited
I’ll be giving two virtual talks this week, and I’d love to see you there.
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The People Summit, the largest online HR conference in the world: Tune in on Tuesday at 6:30am PDT (bright and early for those of us on the West Coast!). Other speakers include Gretchin Rubin, Chip Conley, Sharon Salzberg, and leaders from Google, Headspace, and more. Register here (for free).
Meetup seminar series: Friendships are such an important part of social health, so I was excited when Meetup HQ asked me to share practical tips for how to cultivate them… because let’s be real, it’s not easy as an adult! Also on Tuesday, tune in at 3pm PDT. Register here (for a fee).
Many people do not have those "third" places to hang out. Starting A CONNECTIONS gathering is a great way to bring people together .
CONNECTIONS is a social movement expanding rapidly. We use face-to-face interaction, guided story-sharing and meaningful discussion to enhance feelings of connectedness and happiness. Our gatherings stimulate conversations sprinkled with delightful laughs and participants leave feeling uplifted, inspired and joyful. We are active in Northern NV but expanding through collaboration with other organizations. Contact me at lisa@connectionscentral if you or someone you know would like to start a gathering near you. www.connectionscentral.org.