Shared Space – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special Best Of Shared Space Season 2! We talk with architects, psychologist, designers, activists, writers, urban planners – a host of amazing community changemakers on season two and we weave all of those together for you all. We start with a basic understanding of what is loneliness, social health, and social capital and why is it so important? Then we dive into office spaces, public places, housing, and more – exploring examples from across the globe as to what types of design strategies and approaches foster health, happiness, social connection and combat loneliness.

Interviews

Dr. Mario Luis Small, sociologist, endowed professor at Harvard University, and Panama native - shares his studies on social networks, and starts by defining a key component of our social health – social capital, and why it is critical for so many of the other social determinants we think of from transportation, education and habit formation.

Nigel Oseland, author and environmental psychologist – shares findings from his recent book Beyond The Workplace Zoo: Humanizing the Office. He specializes in workplace design for human connection, and I was honored to be his first interview for his new book.

Emily Anthes, New York Times reporter and author shares findings from her book – The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness.

Mitchell Reardon, urban planner with Happy Cities – talks about what it means to create truly accessible spaces for everyone, where everyone feels welcome. He shares fascinating research findings around Streets for People, a study they did in Canada at the beginning of the Pandemic.

Katie Swenson, design activist and author of MASS Design Group just published two books – Design with Love: At Home in America about her time with Enterprise Communities, and In Bohemia about her personal journey. She discussed how architecture needs to rethink and evaluate the success of spaces and the importance of dignity in design as a fundamental need.

Shelby Blessing, Architect and Activist in Austin Texas shares her experiences working with the Community First Village in Austin – designed specifically for community building and connection for formerly homeless individuals.

June Grant, Okland based activist and architect shares her experiences working with AARP – the largest non-profit dedicated to older adults to create a guidebook for Accessory Dwelling Units – as a method for maintaining community fabric and fostering social connection in communities.

Andrew Howard, urban planner with Team Better Block and WGI talks about what is really important about not only the product but the process of community design.

Judy Sullivan and Meg Moschetto from the Cochrane Heights Neighborhood Association in Dallas, Texas share their perspective of citizen activists that transformed a rundown empty space into a vibrant public community space. They share what it took to get it done and what it changed for their neighborhood community.

...

About the Host:  

Erin is an architect and design researcher bridging the gap between research and practice with a focus on design for health.

Website: www.erinpeavey.com

Twitter: @erin_peavey

Instagram: @design.for.health 

In this episode, I speak with community leaders, and all-around good neighbors, Judy Sullivan and Meg Moschetto of the Cochrane Heights Neighborhood Association in Dallas, Texas. They recently transformed an ‘eyesore’ alley into a place of connection, expanding their neighborhood, increasing safety, and paving the way for a butterfly garden, kids playing and many more dog walks with neighbors. Their journey and the beautiful results were first captured by the Dallas Morning News, and serve as an example to us all for how small community-led changes can have a big impact.

Last season on Shared Space, we explored the research behind design for connection, exploring evidence-based strategies to foster community and belonging. This season, we are digging into the How. 

How do people work in communities across the globe to use architecture and space to as a force to make the world a brighter place? Community leaders, activists designers, and award-winning authors will shared what they've learned about creating a happier, healthier and more connected world. 

Look forward to sharing the journey with you!

This holiday season is unlike any other for most of us. In this episode, I try something a little different, share a little more of myself, and share strategies for navigating loneliness through these holidays. I share stories from listeners who are trying something new this holiday season to stay connected and I share a advice from experts across the landscape of psychology, philosophy and wellbeing.

A few highlights include:

- Gratitude Practice: The regular (daily or more) expression of gratitude, through a journal, app, or other means is one of the most researched and demonstrated ways to find happiness in difficult times. There is always something to be thankful for – your health, enough to eat, people that love you, or maybe just the warmth of the sun.

- Reach Out & Connection: Reaching out to others through letter writing, zoom calls, virtual art party, a pie on your neighbors’ door, or just the old fashioned phone call can be great ways to give and receive connection.

- Giving to Others: It is hard to believe but volunteering or giving gifts to others is demonstrated to lead to more long-term happiness then treating ourselves.

- Feel the Feelings: Allow yourself to be sad and to feel the loss of this time, and help create space for other people to be sad and know that they are loved and supported.

There are so many more ways to connect. I would love to hear from you, how you’re navigating this time.

This is my last episode of the season, and I can say without a doubt hearing from listeners like you these past few months has been one of the greatest gifts. I have loved to hear what resonates, what you want to hear more of, and what these stories have meant to you all. Thank you sincerely for sharing your time and your stories with me. I always want to hear them.

I am planning for next season and would love to hear from you! Look forward to talking with you all in the new year!

Much warmth,

Erin – Host of Shared Space

Have you ever walked into an office and seen a sea of cubicles and wondered - how is anyone supposed to get work done here? How can I have private conversation with colleagues, or collaborative brainstorming session? Or maybe walked into a café and thought, 'where in the world can I tuck out of the way with my toddler so I can still connect with others' (hint: I can relate to that one)?  All of that is related to this concept of Choice and why it is so important in shaping opportunities for social connection. In this episode of Shared Space, Erin Peavey dives into this concept and shares real world architectural and interior design examples. 

Places that provide variety, flexibility, and choices on how to use the space foster personal control and support habitual use for a wide range of activities that suit people’s varying needs and moods. Providing people the freedom to choose how to engage (e.g., play, relax, focus) and where to locate themselves (e.g., booth seating, communal table) facilitates person-environment  fit, or the ability for a person to choose or modify an environment to fit his or her needs and preferences (1), and creates a sense of comfort (2).

The dynamic and changing nature of comfortable spatial proximities to people we encounter (e.g., strangers, acquaintances, or friends) is the basis of proxemics, the study of personal space, and helps inform different types of seating options (3). Third places should support a wide range of uses and options for gathering with people or finding privacy. There should also be flexibility to fit a spectrum of needs and abilities (e.g., older adults, new mothers, children’s groups)(4). For children, this means creating a variety of ways to play (e.g., reading corner vs. jungle gym, playing in the fountain vs. on the grass) and the ability to control what activities to engage in (5). In workplaces, this means balancing privacy and collaboration—a concept often called “we, me, us”—by allowing people to control where they sit and how they engage with others, based on the formality or informality of the circumstances. 

To learn more from my report on Designing for Social Connection & Combating Loneliness that was featured at SXSW here.

To listen to other episodes of Shared Space here.  Or to share your feedback on the episode please respond in the comments on the episode page, or email me at designtohealth@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

To Learn more about Maggie's Centers click here.   

To Learn more about We & Me Spaces.

Today on Shared Space, I talk with Kati Peditto PhD, an award winning environmental psychologist from Cornell University and assistant professor at the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the U.S. Air Force Academy.  Kati’s research focuses on the social and psychological dynamics of space, and particularly on how to create spaces for adolescents and young adults with cancer. We address both universal and specific strategies work for this patient population, and how we can all think of space for connection as a more natural and vital part of our lives.

Below are some of the highlights of our conversation. Hope you enjoy it!

1:40: Dr. Peditto shares her background and her current role as Assistant Professor at the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the US Air Force Academy.

4:55: Kati discusses how our social needs change throughout our lifetime and how having a cancer diagnosis can change the typical dynamics for anyone and especially for young adults.

9:00: Kati shares her research and how she went about interviewing and learning from adolescents and young adults with cancer to create spaces that supported their wellbeing.

13:45: The importance of informal spaces for interaction rather than planned game spaces. “Shared spaces that allow for these informal interactions if I had to pick the most important element to social design, that is what it would be.”

16:25: Kati shares her own personal story of how she got interested in AYA cancer care and why she loves this population so much (hint: the sense of shared purpose helps).

18:25: Discuss the example of Maggie’s Centers across the UK as prime examples of social spaces to support the social health needs of cancer patients and their families. And specifically, the role of the hearth and breaking bread as the center of gathering.

22:45: Discuss how just maybe Maslow gotten wrong in his hierarchy of needs. “We evolved as group-oriented people, because we need a group of people to achieve those basic physiological needs… at the root of it, without having people around you that you can depend on, not just for resources, but for love and warmth, you cannot achieve food and safety”

24:45: Discuss Spatial Justice as a way to create more equitable spaces: “It is still a spatial justice issue to think about the populations that have otherwise been invisible in the design process and how we champion for them. “

30:25: Involving the people who will use the space in the design process: "I wish more people considered the voice of the people they are designing for. Why is it that we are still having conversations about user design discrepancies, we wouldn't be having these conversations anymore if these users were meaningfully involved in the process."

How does our hardwiring for human connection impact how we experience the world? What can you do to combat loneliness and create social wellbeing in your life? Does where you live impact how connected you feel?   Today on Shared Space, I am talking with Julianne Holt-Lundstad, who studies social relationships, stress and our health. She is a renowned professor of psychology and social neuroscience at Brigham Young University - where her seminal research identified social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for early mortality. Her work has been highlighted in the BBC 100 Breakthrough Health Discoveries in 2015, and covered in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Today Show, Brené Brown, Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and well just about everyone else.  It is not an over exaggeration to say that my guest has changed the conversation on loneliness across the globe – and yet somehow she stays humble, kind, mission driven, and persistently dedicated to truth.  In this episode, Julianne and I discuss:  - Her own life experiences and what drove her to explore the important topics of loneliness and social isolation. -  More drastic examples of loneliness across history (e.g., solitary confinement, infants in custodial care) and what they can teach us about the biological need for human contact.  - Why loneliness and social isolation are such a big health crisis that it has earned the name of "epidemic" and how the loneliness and social isolation manifest differently. -  How she came to see the role of the built environment in fostering (or hindering) social connection in our everyday lives. She shares examples from living in Amsterdam, and Blue Zone cities across Greece and Italy, and her stories are filled with so much joy.  -  A potential silver-lining of this pandemic.  - Her advice for policy makers and community leaders to foster social health as we respond to COVID-19 and beyond.  And we share a rapid-fire round of questions that includes everything from her favorite quote to what is keeping her excited today! There is seriously too much to enjoy in this episode and we really hope you find it interesting and helpful. I would love to hear your thoughts, what resonated and what you would like to hear more about on my website - https://www.erinpeavey.com/sharedspace. 

Do you ever wonder how can we socially connect and still be safe? What is the role of the design of the physical spaces around us? What strategies could work for both you, and perhaps your loved ones living in senior housing? In Episode 9 of the Shared Space podcast, I sit down with Patricia Gruits of MASS Design Group to explore synergies between designing for COVID-19 and designing for social connection with a special focus on senior living. Patricia shares findings from her recent report “Designing Senior Housing for Safe Interaction The Role of Architecture in Fighting COVID-19”. Understanding the toxic health effects of loneliness, her team identified ways to help people safety connect. We explore how to design for joy, hope, and connection rather than fear. Not ignoring the dangers, but rather finding the synergies in these.

Patricia is a Senior Principal & Managing Director with MASS Design Group, a leading not-for-profit design firm, where she leads both design and research projects in health, education, and equity. Her work has been featured in journals of architecture and design as well as on the BBC World News and the Discovery Channel. She has lectured and taught design across the nation. Patricia has a Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Architecture from the University of Michigan, a program that is well known for their integration of purpose driven design and research that continues to inform her approach today.

Link to the abbreviated transcript of our interview will be here soon: https://www.erinpeavey.com/sharedspace

To learn more about Patricia & The work at MASS Design: 

• Patricia Gruit's Bio at MASS Design 
• Portable Light Project: The Portable Light Project enables people in the developing world to create and own energy harvesting textiles, providing the benefits of renewable power as an integral part of everyday life.

Links from topics and projects mentioned during our interview: 

• Green House Project: A different way to design for aging at scale
• Research on how Green House project homes have fared through COVID-19. Spoiler alert - Green House Project residents have fared much better than other types of skilled nursing.

Designing Senior Housing for Safe Interaction:

• Link to Full Report on MASS Design. 
• The team (excerpt from report): MASS Design team members, Patricia Gruits, Katie Swenson, and Regina Yang -- who led the development of the senior living COVID-19 guide. This guide and its design principles were developed through research and focused conversations with leaders in affordable housing development, operation, and design. We are grateful to Jennifer Molinsky of the Joint Center for Housing Studies; Emi Kiyota, founder of IBASHO, for their partnership and to Alma Balonon-Rosen, Massachusetts Housing Partnership; Susan Gittelman, B’nai B’rith; Carrie Niemy, Enterprise Community Partners; Jane Rohde, JSR Associates; and Enterprise Rose Fellows Peter Aeschbacher, Sam Beall, Nick Guertin, Yuko Okabe, Kelsey Oesmann, and Jason Wheeler for their experience, consultation and review.

This week's podcast we dig into one of the six attributes that help to create environments of connection, Human Scale. I interview Thom Grieving, Principal of HKS, about his team's work around a very special project that helps to exemplify what design with human scale for connection looks like at University of California at San Diego, Theater District Living and Learning Neighborhood. For this project, the Dean and leadership of UCSD had thoughtfully embedded considerations around social health and social connection in the original program of spaces and considering community health and wellness were key aims that the project targeted. 

Spaces designed at a human scale use architectural detailing and variety to create small and intimate environments that are comfortable for people to move through or occupy. These  are spaces that meet our basic human needs for  comfort, safety, and interest (1), and that feel good to be in for reasons that are often indescribable. City blocks designed at a human scale have been shown to promote more social interactions and lingering (2), whereas research reveals that blocks with large expanses of monotonous storefront elevate stress responses and speed walking (3).

This conclusion was tested at a Whole Foods in New York City, where a  research team found that despite the store operator’s desire for Whole Foods to feel like a local grocery store and blend with the existing neighborhood, the expansive glass storefront actually repelled passersby, who quickened their pace to get past it (4). This finding echoes a growing body of research in both human and mouse models that show how spaces devoid of ornamentation and variety can elicit a strong stress response (5), believed to be linked to the painful boredom they provoke (6).

A well-established component of human-scale design is the quality of providing prospect and refuge (7), offered by buildings or spaces that create a sense of enclosure while giving people the ability to look out—for instance, being under a patio pergola or on a front porch and watching the street. If you have ever felt the pull of a cozy booth seat or rested at the base of a tree, you have experienced the natural comfort of a space that provided prospect and refuge. This quality promotes a dual sense of security and openness that allows us to deepen existing friendships and form new ones.

Citations: 1. Montgomery, 2018; 2. Ellard, 2018;3. Ellard, 2018; Montgomery, 2018; 4. Ellard, 2018; Montgomery, 2018; 5. Bayne, 2018; Salingaros, 2014; 6. Ellard, 2018; 7. Dosen & Ostwald, 2016

Links: 

• UCSD Future College in the San Diego Union Tribute
• Ellard & Montgomery Study around human scale for BMW Guggenheim Lab 
• BMW Guggenheim Lab
• Architect, Thom Greiving

In this episode, Maya and I explore how architecture can help create community and foster inclusion – how often it’s purposefully designed to exclude and how we can change that. Maya’s journey to create Chicago Mobile Makers started off with two questions - 1. How can we diversity the design profession? 2. How can we improve disinvested communities? And, can those two things happen simultaneously? 

Maya believes that architecture should not be a privilege and must expand to accommodate more people through teaching and community engagement. While working full time and completing her master's, she founded Chicago Mobile Makers, a nonprofit bringing design focused skill-building workshops to marginalized Chicago communities. Her journey - from growing up in the Historic Oak Park with Frank Lloyd Wright tours down the road, to architecture school at Ball State and a Master's degree at Boston Architectural College while working full time, to where she is today - is a roadmap for those looking to chart their own path and be the change they want to see in the world. '

Her story is an inspiration for anyone thinking about going into a design field, or really any field, and doesn’t see themselves represented. In many ways she let pain be her guide and created something uniquely special and life giving.  As her and her colleagues at Chicago Mobile Makers look to this next school semester in the face of COVID-19, the mobile maker has some very special things in store that are uniquely positioned to benefit Chicago area youth. If you want to learn more about here or her work please check out the links below to her website, Chicago Mobile Maker’s Website and their recent feature in Dwell Magazine. Links: Maya Bird-Murphy: Website / @mayabirdmurphy  Chicago Mobile Makers: @chicagomobilemakers / https://www.chicagomobilemakers.org/  Dwell feature of Chicago Mobile Makers