A village or a tower? New tool kit aims to create a softer approach to high-density living in Edmonton

In The Hendrix, it only took David Rumer a week to meet people and feel welcome because of the way shared amenity spaces in his building are designed. Greg Southam / Postmedia

It’s easy to feel lonely and crowded at the same time in the type of towers going up across Edmonton’s most-populated neighbourhoods.

Meeting a neighbour in a cramped elevator is uncomfortable, socially awkward and, once inside a condo unit, only pigeons walk by the window.

But it doesn’t have to be that way, says a group of researchers who studied neuroscience, sociology, environmental psychology, architecture and public health to create a new set of design guidelines for high-density living.

“It’s up to us to build cities that bring us together or push us apart,” said Paty Rios, who led the design effort for the Vancouver-based consulting firm Happy City. The guidelines were released in June and are already starting to influence Edmonton planners.

Building design can reduce social isolation by creating frequent, natural interaction between a small group of residents. According to Happy City researchers, shared activities in a common courtyard, such as gardens, bike repair and a dog run can facilitate this. Marianne Amodio Architecture / Tomo Spaces

Rios’ Toolkit is a set of rules that let people evaluate new designs for buildings and shared public spaces — involving everything from good sound insulation, to the way entrances are designed and neighbours interact.

“We want to bring people together, but not all the people together … It’s about creating clusters, sub-clusters,” said Rios, describing ways to make casual interaction comfortable and frequent.

“When we feel our personal space isn’t being invaded, we can communicate in a much more positive way,” said Rios, describing the brief hello that gradually becomes a “How is your daughter?” that evolves into a meaningful relationship.

The Happy City team is starting a 12-unit pilot project with a Vancouver-based developer. It is also leading workshops to audit new building designs and meeting with city officials to see if socially positive designs can be fast-tracked through the permits system.

A road show is taking the team across Canada, although Rios has no Edmonton dates yet.

“It’s a new approach; I think it’s exciting,” said Anne Stevenson, one of Edmonton’s senior planners. She’s reviewing Edmonton’s rules around shared amenity spaces to make sure, at minimum, they don’t create a barrier to this approach.

The other suggestions will be part of Edmonton Infill 2.0 public engagement, expected to explore new rules to encourage quality medium-scale density along main streets this fall.

Some Edmonton developers are already adopting some of these ideas. At The Hendrix, a new luxury rental tower in the Grandin area, the property manager acts as a “social concierge,” planning monthly mixers, painting classes and Oilers game nights.

Free coffee and wireless internet in the café and rooftop lounge give residents a reason to drop in. The rooftop’s 360-degree view, barbecues, gas fireplace and extra kitchen are also shared.

“I love the idea of being able to sit out here with a cup of coffee and a blanket, a few friends, old or new,” said resident David Rumer, looking at the rooftop patio and saying he felt welcome and included after just a week.

“We’re too often in our own worlds on our phones, isolated from each other. But this avoids the other extreme, where people are too close,” he said. “I just don’t want anyone in my house. I want people close to my house.”

“I just love community — I think that’s how we’re designed.”