Neighborliness in the Age of Algorithms

In an age where convenience often trumps connection, the spaces we create hold powerful potential to rekindle the everyday magic of being neighbors. Building for neighborliness is about designing environments that gently nudge us closer to each other, where casual hellos bloom into enduring relationships. When we prioritize human scale over screens (whether phone or windshield), gathering over passing by, we create more than infrastructure. We create the conditions for belonging.

More and more, we live in a world where life is streamed, curated, and filtered. But no algorithm can replace a neighbor knocking on your door, a spontaneous chat on the front porch, or the comfort of seeing familiar faces on your morning walk. Neighborliness is an antidote to isolation. It invites us back into a version of real life that’s rich with warmth, unpredictability, and mutual care—the kind of richness no app can emulate.

At the front lines of this effort are the spaces that blur the boundary between private and public: porches, stoops, and patios. These architectural handshakes signal openness and invitation. A well-tended front garden or a shared bench on a walking path can say, “This is a place where people notice each other.” Designing with these interactions in mind transforms neighborhoods into places where children play freely, adults linger longer, and everyone feels a little more rooted.

Equally vital are the “third places,” the spaces between home and work that cultivate community spirit. Cafés, corner bookstores, small pubs, and shared gardens are the soul of a neighborhood. They are where stories are exchanged, ideas sparked, and laughter shared. They are also places to simply be with others, to exist among fellow humans without an agenda. Encouraging these spaces through thoughtful zoning and intentional investment ensures that people of all ages and backgrounds have somewhere to belong offline.

But building for neighborliness isn’t just about cozy corners. It is also about large, civic-hearted gestures: public squares, markets under string lights, and walkable loops that stitch the city together. It’s about reclaiming the old and underused, then imagining something vibrant in its place. When we invest in spaces that invite use, care, and collaboration, we create a world where real life is more engaging, more spontaneous, and more fulfilling than its digital simulation.

Five Principles for Building Neighborly Places

1. Design for Eye Contact
   Build homes and businesses that face shared spaces, not highways or parking lots. Human-scale design elements like porches, stoops, and benches create natural moments for interaction and foster safety through visibility.

2. Prioritize Proximity
   Bring daily life closer to home. Support mixed-use development so essentials like grocery stores, cafés, schools, and parks are just a short walk or bike ride away.

3. Invest in Third Places
   Zone for and support small-scale gathering places: bookshops, cafés, ice cream parlors, and pocket parks. These are the connective tissue of community life and provide real-world alternatives to scrolling and swiping.

4. Embrace the Power of Shared Spaces
   Civic squares, greenways, and flexible public spaces should be central, not peripheral. Design them to be more interesting than their virtual simulations. Build for everyday lounging, community events, food trucks, and music. Let neighbors help shape how they are used.

5. Honor Identity, Support Adaptability
   Celebrate each neighborhood's unique history, quirks, and character. At the same time, build flexibly so communities can grow and adapt as people and needs evolve.