ADDRESSING LONELINESS WITH RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Architects have important role to play in helping to forge closer sense of community
In 2012, the Vancouver Foundation released a report that surprised many: it revealed that a relatively large number of Metro Vancouver residents were experiencing a high degree of isolation and loneliness.
While most Metro Vancouver residents enjoy strong social connections and know at least one neighbour well enough to ask for help, not all are so fortunate.
Some assume loneliness is restricted to older people who have lost a partner or whose family has moved away, but the foundation’s research suggested loneliness is not a function of age. Many young people, especially those who are unemployed, also experience loneliness and a risk of isolation.
To address this, the foundation last year organized an inaugural ‘On the Table’ program that arranged meals for unattached individuals. This year, more than 500 events were hosted with considerable success.
While the Vancouver Foundation continues to promote ideas to foster community, architects and developers can also play an important role.
At the University of Toronto School of Architecture in the late 1960s, my professors were focused on how architects must create community through design.
I recall being chastised by the dean for proposing a ‘back-toback’ terraced housing design that I had seen in England. The layout made more efficient use of land, since each townhouse shared not only its side walls, but also its rear wall with another dwelling.
The following year, he was outraged with my final thesis, which proposed setting up temporary affordable housing communities on vacant lots using factory-built modular units. When the lots were required for permanent buildings, the modular housing would be relocated.
Ray Affleck, one of Canada’s foremost architects, was invited to critique the graduating class’s work and defended my concept, noting there was no reason why residents couldn’t remain together after the modules were moved.
For years, I promoted this concept as an affordable housing solution and was delighted when the City of Vancouver agreed to build a demonstration project at Terminal and Main.
While many modular communities are providing a sense of hope and community for formerly homeless people on public lands, it is time for private landowners to be encouraged to make their properties available with property tax credits like those offered for community gardens.
Other innovative housing solutions can reduce loneliness while creating affordable housing choices. Recently, ‘co-living’ developments are being created around the world in which residents have their own private sleeping space, but share kitchens, living areas and laundry.
For years, I have proposed renting empty bedrooms to create affordable housing, while reducing loneliness. Someone in Salt Lake City recently wrote to me wanting to know why I thought the concept hadn’t taken off. He is working on a startup to make it easy for homeowners to rent their empty bedrooms.
I told him about Vancouver Homesharers, started by then-alderman Marguerite Ford in the 1980s, which assisted people who wanted to share homes. A staffing position was funded by CMHC for two years and there were many successes, but when funding stopped, so did the program.
I also told him about Nesterly, an American program started by a young woman from Cortes Island that promotes home sharing between generations, and North Vancouver’s Hollyburn Family Services Society, which is developing a concept for a seniors’ roommate registry.
Unfortunately, innovative housing concepts often take time to succeed because of our fears of the new and unknown. I have experienced this during five decades of designing and developing new forms of housing.
Eight years ago, I sought approvals to build three duplexes and three coach houses on three formerly single-family lots in Ambleside in West Vancouver. The development was inspired by American architect Ross Chapin’s concept of community-focused ‘pocket neighbourhoods.’ Over 150 people wrote letters or appeared in person to oppose the development, fearing it would change their single-family neighbourhood, but council eventually voted four to three to support the development.
Today, Hollyburn Mews is a poster child for infill development in West Vancouver. Its residents know and look after one another and appreciate the lifestyle and financial benefits of a small, self-managed strata arrangement.
I have subsequently developed two smaller infill projects in Ambleside incorporating heritage houses. Vinson House Residences is a four-home development and Major Rush Mews includes two homes in a conserved heritage home along with new detached houses.
While the Vancouver Foundation should be congratulated for its efforts to address isolation and loneliness, let’s hope architects and developers can have more opportunities to do the same through good housing design.
Michael Geller is a Vancouver architect, real estate consultant and developer. He serves on the adjunct faculty of SFU’S Centre for Sustainable Development and Resource and Environmental Management. His blog can be found at gellersworldtravel.blogspot.ca and he can be reached at geller@sfu.ca
Unfortunately, innovative housing concepts often take time to succeed because of our fears of the new and unknown.