Together alone

Abstract

The number of solo-dwellers is a rising trend in the Netherlands. While living alone is not a new phenomenon, the proportions of solo-dwellers have made this a significant demographic group. According to ABF Research, the total number of households in the Netherlands in 2020 is 8,02 million with 3,11 million solo-dwellers. In 2050 the total number of households is expected to grow to 9,2 million with 4,09 million solo-dwellers. Thus, the solo-dweller household is the household type with the most expected growth compared to the other household types (ABF Research, 2020). More people choose to live on their own as a lifestyle choice or as a consequence of social and economic circumstances. Also, the number of people who express feeling lonely is increasing in the Netherlands. Within the solo-dweller household type, 48% of the people express to feel either somewhat or very lonely. Of the solo-dwellers who express feeling lonely, 14,8% are emotionally lonely and 16,3% are socially lonely (CBS, 2019). There are different reasons for being lonely, therefore, finding the solution to combat loneliness can be difficult. In the context of this research, this paper aims to focus on the loneliness that is caused by social isolation. Social isolation can be very harmful to physical and mental health, according to Holt-Lunstad (2015). This is why human societies have organized themselves around the notion of living with others and not alone (Klinenberg, 2012).

Be that as it may, modern society is changing according to Sennett (2018) as strangers keep more to themselves and do not interact with other strangers as much compared to the years before. If in today’s age, as a solo-dweller, you do not interact in public and also not in your home, it is not surprising to see that the number of people who express to feel lonely at times increases. This is because not interacting with people in public and in private is a form of social isolation which can cause loneliness. As people are more hesitant to interact with other strangers it becomes evident how important architecture is that incite moments of social encounters. The obvious question that follows this statement is whether solo-dwellers even want moments of social encounters. According to the research of Klinenberg (2012), for solo-dwellers, these spaces for social interactions are very important. This is because to compensate for the social isolation at home, the solo-dweller looks for nearby facilities where they can socialize. As the life of a solo-dweller continues, their living arrangements can change. A solo-dweller will have moments where they are not a solo-dweller. To prevent an excessive concentration of single-use within a building or space, it is important to cater to the diverse and ever-changing needs and practices of a young solo-dweller.

Furthermore, Novotney (2019) mentions that co-living is a popular trend for young and old to improve social connections and combat loneliness. These co-living communities can be established in a neighbourhood with multiple single-family homes or with solo-dwellers in one large apartment block. I will investigate different strategies in precedent co-living housing schemes to reduce loneliness among solo-dwellers in the city.