happiness and the built environment

Our understanding of how our environment shapes our happiness has evolved quite a bit in the last few years. These seven “happiness factors” can provide direction for us as we design the built environment moving forward. The way we live and work is rapidly transforming — the dividing lines between the two continue to disappear. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated trends associated with the physical and virtual hybridization of urban life while also exposing other social, environmental, and economic challenges our cities will face in the future.

The pandemic also brought to light the health impacts of loneliness and social isolation, which have been linked to sleep loss, ill health, dementia, premature, death and even heartbreak. A 2010 study found that these effects on our health are as harmful to our life expectancy as a 15-cigarette-a-day smoking habit. Even before the pandemic, global trends towards individualism and away from traditional sources of solidarity and community exacerbated loneliness.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation Study showed that more than one in five adults in the United States (22%), United Kingdom (23%), and one in ten in Japan (9%) report being frequently feeling lonely or socially isolated.

Coupled with the effects of the pandemic, technology, and social media continue to simultaneously connect and isolate us. Many of us have an increased desire for meaningful shared experiences in connected, socially enriching environments.

So how can we design the built environment to promote social connection? What are some urban design strategies we can leverage to improve our happiness? As designers and researchers at the global design firm HKS, we are committed to answering these questions. We believe that through research, informed intent, and meaningful (measurable) impact, are core tenets of responsible design and innovative practices. An HKS original research report, How the Built Environment Can Foster Social Health, identifies guidelines for design spaces that combat loneliness and social isolation and foster social capital and communities. Here are excerpts from the report: