About the
Loneliness Lab

In October 2018 we launched with a week-long design sprint, bringing together more than 100 people to help shape the Lab agenda together. Thirty participants then worked in cross-sector teams to test ideas to tackle loneliness in London's buildings and streets.

The sprint acted as a launchpad for numerous projects including London is Lonely, Elephant Says Hi and Craft Moves. Many participants also went on to embed loneliness into their industry practice, for example by adding loneliness to the curriculum at the London School of Architecture and setting up loneliness CPD training for landscape architects.

The playbook we created to capture ideas and learnings from the week has inspired spin-off labs and projects all across the UK.

Watch the video to find out more.

Unlocking collective action

Building on the sprint ideas, in 2019, we established key place and issue-based collaborations that are still underway.

Workplace Loneliness - How can we design loneliness out of the workplace? An industry working group explored the drivers of office loneliness to see how design can better connect colleagues.

Euston - How can connection be designed into the public and shared spaces? Lendlease along with local partners Camden Council and Central Saint Martins and contractors such as Publica are looking at how to design out loneliness through the masterplan redevelopment surrounding Euston station. One initiative includes prototyping ideas to reclaim pubic spaces at Make @ Story Garden, a temporary maker space behind the British Library.

Elephant Says Hi - How can Elephant and Castle become the friendliest place in London? Through marketing, events and Local Hero awards, a group of community organisations and retailers are creating a more welcoming place for longstanding and new residents alike.

Influencing change

A lot has changed since 2018.

The built environment and the structural drivers of loneliness are now recognised as important factors in creating social connection. The work of the Lab has influenced:

Built Environment Industry - co-founders of the Lab, Lendlease have embedded tackling loneliness throughout many of their projects including embedding connection into design briefs for masterplans and residential developments.

The Campaign to End Loneliness - the built environment is a key gateway infrastructure to tackle loneliness in its Promising Approaches framework.

Central government policy - both the Government and All Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness are including the built environment in their 2020 strategies.

The UK Planning Review - members of the Loneliness Lab network co-created a submission highlighting how planning can create more inclusive and socially connected communities.

Our focus in 2020 has been on growing our community into a global, self-organising network where people and organisations can share their research, experiments and influencing activities directly with each other.

In September 2020, our 'Design to Connect' virtual event series brought together over 200 placemakers, policymakers and individuals to explore inspiring examples of design and social connection. Watch the recordings to catch up on the events.

To connect with members of the Lab Network, join our members' network email group.