The Social Life Project

2021 as a Year of Renewal: 11 Transformative Agendas to Restore Social Life in Your Community

Saving the planet depends on reclaiming our communities.

Paris is the World Capital of Affection, Comfort, and Joy

Public Displays of Affection. From simple eye contact to a kiss — human contact imbues a place with life. The natural expression of reaching out to communicate with or touch one another is a basic way of communicating, and is almost as important as breathing.

Sidewalks

Starting at the Corner: A New Haven Success Story

Areas around Yale exploded with social life this past summer and fall — coming alive in spite of COVID-19 — we couldn't help but notice and be reminded of our work there, years ago.

Architecture of Place

Porch Life: Building Social Neighborhoods

As "in-between" spaces, porches create a soft edge that mediates between individual and community, public and private, and in these times, offer a safe way to maintain our social, mental and physical health.

Transformative Ideas

To Save the Planet, Start with Sidewalks

Rich street life is no frill. It is an expression of the most ancient function of a city—a place for people to come together, all kinds of people, face-to-face. — William "Holly" Whyte

Transformative Ideas

Our Global Catastrophes will be Solved by Local Communities

The problems we face are global in scale. Yet the most effective solutions can be found on the local level. The frontlines for social change today are in neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities.

Who Owns the Intersection Defines the Social Life of Neighborhoods

You can tell a great city by its corners. If If the intersection is owned by the vehicles, it is a city for cars and traffic. If the community controls the intersections/corners, it is a city of neighborhoods.

Barcelona

Seven Places to Experience the Awe-Inspiring Social Life of Barcelona

Seven spots around Barcelona that offer crucial lessons to instill social life in an urban setting: Sagrada Famila, Palau de la Musica Catalana, a Giant Flea Market, Parc de la Ciutadella, a busy neighborhood…park, market and street…and a small fountain

Streets

It's the Sidewalks, Stupid

Paradigm-shattering change will happen when streets, sidewalks and intersections are transformed into community gathering spots through the simple act of giving human beings priority over motor vehicles.

The Magic of Luxembourg Gardens

The magical appeal of Luxembourg Gardens is simply that people feel welcome to eat, relax or stroll. But it's under-pining is that, it's all about just a nice place to sit

Italy

What I've Learned Taking Out the Garbage

The architecture of most city halls in many countries, follows one of three models: The Freestanding Icon, The Secure Fortress, or the Generic Office Block. However, city halls in Italy follow a fourth model – The Center of the Community.

How a Australian Window Washer Changed the World

Cities were “an invention to maximise exchange and minimise travel”...I am fascinated about, "How the design of the public realm impacts the quality of social, cultural and civic life."

Sidewalks

Creating the Streets We Want

Rich street life is no frill. It is an expression of the most ancient function of a city—a place for people to come together, all kinds of people, face-to-face. — William "Holly" Whyte

Turn Places "Inside Out" to Revive Social Connection and Local Economies

Thresholds where storefronts and buildings connect with the sidewalk —is the place to reunite communities and jump-start local economies after these long, hard months.

Barcelona

La Rambla: Barcelona's Promenade-to-the-Sea is One of the World's Great Streets

A torrent of humanity, a river of life, a tumultuous flow of people of every imaginable size, shape, age, gender and flavor.

Coming Out of Minneapolis Tragedy, the Community Creates a Healing Public Space

Community turns site of George Floyd's killing into a sacred pedestrian space A mural at the site of George Floyd's killing has become a sacred space For weeks, the

Coming Out of the Pandemic—We Will Have A Greater Appreciation for Social Life

Great Places to congregate can heal us in many ways As we ponder what the world will look like coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, one outcome might be something

Italy

The Home-Based Work Place— Rediscovering an Old Idea

In Italy, the shop downstairs is put to many good uses

Italy

Social Distancing, Italian-Style

The role that place plays for a country coming out of lockdown

Barcelona

Homage to Barcelona

Barcelona is most itself in smallish, protected spaces and what makes these spaces memorable is what happens in them.

Public Markets

Social Encounters of 4 Kinds: A Field Guide to Markets

A big reason we enjoy markets are the plentiful opportunities for conversation

Social Life and COVID-19

10 Ways to Re-Open Our Communities and Businesses While Keeping Everyone Safe

How do we “tip-toe” our way back to a flourishing social life, capitalizing on local knowledge to make sensible choices about how to reopen our communities by involving local people in the decisions.

Social Life and COVID-19

Lockdown In Italy: What I Miss Most

In praise of sociability—the active ingredient of everyday life

Italy

Passeggiata: An Exuberant Italian Custom We Should All Adopt

A regular stroll through town is not just fun—it also boosts our sense of community

Munich

Please just a nice place to sit — Victual Market, Munich, Germany

A creative approach to seating makes this one of the world's great social places

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