Homes to tackle loneliness: Spanish architects’ plan

A flat is home and workplace for a woman, her partner and their two children. An older man lives alone but remains active. In Madrid on 9 November 2026, the Observatory of Spain’s Higher Council of Architects’ Associations uses lives like theirs to make a case for homes that fit different needs and help tackle unwanted loneliness.

Its report proposes shared spaces close to people’s homes, where they can build connections without giving up privacy. It argues that one type of housing cannot work equally well for young people unable to move out, older people who want to remain independent, single-parent families and people who work from home.

The report also calls for changes to the rules. It says regulation of shared housing has advanced since 2019, but rules in Spain’s regions still largely reflect traditional homes. The architects want a legal basis for newer ways of living.

Experts from around 60 organisations helped develop the report, alongside contributions from vulnerable groups. The question behind it is not only how many homes people need, but whether those homes suit the lives they lead.

Topics: Housing · Social affairs · Pollença

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com