Loneliness and the Built Environment

Loneliness is a growing epidemic.
And the way our cities and communities are planned, designed and built is a major part of the equation.

​Loneliness and the Built Environment is a new 5-minute film calling to attention the under-recognised public health crisis of social isolation, and the urgent need to shape cities, places and spaces to support connectedness.
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It is reported that loneliness carries a health risk similar to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. The film was released in the week of the UN International Day of Happiness, which had the theme of “Happier Together”.
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The fields of architecture and design are often seen to be only related to physical elements or surface appearances, without awareness of the bigger impacts - how places can have either a positive or negative effect on people’s lives, including social health.

Capturing glimpses of people in their everyday lives, Loneliness and the Built Environment poignantly brings home the reality of this quietly devastating crisis and shines a light on the need to rethink cities and the design of places to help tackle this widespread challenge.
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This film aims to raise greater awareness on how our surroundings profoundly impact people’s health, happiness and ability to live together as communities. It looks to inspire change and foster a sense of empowerment for people to expect more from their places. It shares the power of our surroundings to nurture individual and social wellbeing through the lens of Natasha Reid’s humanistic perspective on design and placemaking.