The traits of extraversion—gregariousness and comfort with the spotlight—are often seen as synonymous with leadership, confidence, ability, and likability—especially in the United States. Author Susan Cain coined the term "extrovert ideal" to describe this well-researched preference of people in Western societies.

But where does that leave introverts or ambiverts?

The built environment has a role in combating social isolation and loneliness and in fostering connection.

Interconnected physical spaces shape our cities and communities, from homes, to streets, parks, and more.

Social connectedness can be boosted via design, planning, and policy, and across stakeholders.

Where we live, work, play, and learn impacts our social health and how connected we are as a society

As cities invest in infrastructure, design for social and community well-being benefits everyone

Design guidelines for social health can be created with PANACHe

"We need to think beyond just the individual," Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University and a leading loneliness researcher, told Insider. "We often neglect the built environment."

How does where we live impact on how we experience loneliness and what can we as policymakers, researchers, and practitioners do about it. This session which includes speakers with experience from around the world, will look at what interventions can really make a difference in reducing the impact of where we live on our levels of loneliness.

Join us for the third event in the Connect+Conversations series! This session will focus on how the places where we live, work, and play influence our social relationships.

We will explore the latest research, recommendations, and real-world examples of designing the built environment and neighborhoods to reduce loneliness and strengthen communities.

You will hear from experts in this space and have the opportunity to engage with people across the US and globally. Join the conversation if you are interested in learning and discussing:

• What features of the built environment contribute to social health

• How urban vs. rural communities help or hinder social connection

• Why design and programming must go hand-in-hand

• And more!

Following the pandemic of 1918, there was an urge to look for new solutions to what we used every day inside our homes. Everything from door knobs to bed frames to toilet seats were redesigned towards a cleaner, more hygienic environment. What will the interiors of houses look like after this pandemic and how and where will we live? Whether it’s a basement suite or a mansion by the beach, our homes are shelters and sanctuaries. But sanctuaries come at a cost. House prices skyrocketed during the pandemic and so did loneliness. It may be scary to go back outside after this pandemic, but greenspace and third places connect us with each other after months of isolation. In this episode, hear from: Uwe Schmidt-Hess, the founder and director of 'Patalab. Since setting up the practice in 2008, he has coordinated the design of a diverse range of projects encompassing the residential, public, office, arts and culture sectors. Prior to establishing Patalab, Uwe worked for several leading international firms including Fink+jocher in Munich, Atrium Design in Bangkok and Make Architects in London. Erin Peavey, an Architect and Design Researcher at HKS. She bridges the gap between research and practice, with a focus on design for health and wellbeing. Erin has been named a Rising Star by Healthcare Design Magazine and Healthcare Design's Best Under 40 by the AIA-AAH. If you like this episode, please subscribe here: https://apostrophepodcasts.ca/alonetogether and follow us on social media @apostrophepod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I was honored to be in conversation with Jennifer Roberts, PhD and Resa Lewiss, MD on her podcast, Visible Voices talking about the role of the built environment on health.

Loneliness and social isolation are threatening millions of people; however, increasing connection can reduce risk.

The places we live can exacerbate our sense of isolation and loneliness.

Concrete design strategies—like universal accessibility, incorporation of nature, and shared spaces—can foster social health.

Partnering with Social Health Lab’s founder, Kasley Killam, MPH from Harvard University, to discuss Designing for Urban Connection as a part of the World Happiness Week events, hosted by Togetherness Hub!

The pandemic has created a new normal of remote living: forcing many of us to move from in-person interactions to online and virtual experiences, heightening feelings of loneliness, disengagement and disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Join this event on utilizing health, hospitality and design to reframe human connection, share our humanity, promote inclusion.

Loneliness can affect anyone at any point in life and is a topic that employers should address proactively as it can have a negative effect on workplace productivity and a person’s health. The workplace can serve as the foundation for improving vitality and reducing feelings of loneliness and starts by creating a culture of inclusion.

“The nation’s leaders and policymakers are currently focused on combating the coronavirus as well as devising policies to ease the impact of an expected recession. But there’s also a coming social recession that deserves more attention right now, according to Erin Peavey, a Dallas-based architect and design researcher for HKS focused on designing for health and human connection.”

In a time of hyper connection and communication, many of us report feeling lonely and detached, and there is strong evidence that this has a toxic effect on our health and happiness. This panel will discuss what’s driving increases in social isolation and loneliness (hint: it’s not just technology) and examine scalable strategies — some unexpected — that lead to social environments that promote meaningful connections. The trick is to think not only about places where communities are formed IRL, but the people who gather there and the shared experiences that keep them coming back. Huge opportunities await entrepreneurs who can leverage this knowledge to build a future marked by connections that boost our collective health.