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Paper short abstract:

Physical health depends on a robust social immune system - networks of friends and concerned others. Face-to-face interaction in public places facilitates the development of a social immune system. What is required to ensure a healthy urban public realm, especially important for children and elders?

Paper long abstract:

Human beings are social creatures. The quality and quantity of our social interaction strongly influence physical and mental health (House). With insufficient, inadequate or negative social interaction we languish and sicken. This is particularly true for children and older people. Social skills learned by children and youth shape their ability to develop a robust "social immune system" (Nestmann & Hurrelmann) - networks of friends and concerned others -- that helps maintain health and well-being throughout life, and strengthens resilience in avoiding dysfunctional social behavior. For elders, diminishing circles of friends and peers can lead to isolation, depression, victimization, physical illness and premature death (Klinenberg) if opportunities for community-in-place are not available.

In sprawling suburbs and dangerous inner city neighborhoods (Earls) public places, streets and squares discourage positive face-to-face interaction. It is essential to reshape suburbs and inner city neighborhoods so that they provide settings that facilitate positive face-to-face social interaction (Leyden). This paper will discuss how compact human scale urban fabric, mixed use buildings with residential over shops, wide sidewalks, traffic free squares and traffic calmed streets, farmers markets and community festivals create public spaces that generate social interaction, community and civic engagement (Crowhurst Lennard & Lennard) - essential ingredients in developing a healthy "social immune system".