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Building communities

Ronald ChanSponsored
Finbar Chief Operations Officer Ronald Chan.
Camera IconFinbar Chief Operations Officer Ronald Chan. Credit: The West Australian.

The word community means many things to many people. A local community, a school community, a sporting club or church – the bringing together of people or groups of people united by a common cause, passion or location.

While the underlying foundation may differ, the purpose and benefits of community are universal – and in a world where loneliness is an increasing social issue that has ramifications on both mental and physical health, promoting and encouraging communities and the benefits they bring is more important than ever.

At a basic level, humans are social animals with a tribal background and a tendency to form communities.

While apartment developments may seem an unlikely source of communal spirit to some, architects, designers and developers have been working for years to make sure they provide residents with the ingredients needed to build their own communities where they live.

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Scratch the surface and you’ll see that apartment developments are thriving social hubs for the many people that choose to call them home.

Many apartment dwellers are united first and foremost by their choice of lifestyle and location, and even their attitude to parties and pets.

These days, rather than communicate via printed newsletters in communal areas, it’s all about creating communities via social media. If one doesn’t exist already, think about creating an apartment Facebook page that can be used to discuss issues relevant to your building and neighbourhood, which can also be used as a vehicle to promote social activities and create a sense of community.

This can seep out further into the local community, bringing in local cafes and restaurants – even if it’s just to share who has the best coffee or pasta in the local area – or sporting clubs looking to recruit new members.

Many apartments now provide a huge range of communal and outdoor spaces that offer residents the opportunity to get out of their apartments and socialise with those around them.

Communal vegetable gardens where residents can tend and pick fresh produce are a great way to promote social engagement and enjoy the outdoors.

Similarly, gym and yoga rooms are a way of offering residents communal spaces and activities they can enjoy with other residents, bringing in teachers or holding special events.

Many modern apartment developments these days also include a range of outdoor spaces to host resident picnics, outdoor movie nights and social events that allow residents to mix with those they may not often see in the hallways or as they come and go. They also give residents the freedom and flexibility to opt in or out as they choose.

A recent news story in the US, talking about tackling social isolation and loneliness in larger cities, saw an urban planner create a series of ‘please disturb’ doorknob hangers to create a visual invitation for neighbours to approach each other, breaking the ice and encouraging interaction and sense of community – sometimes the simplest activities are often the most effective.

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