Houssam Elokda
@houssamelokda.bsky.social
I tweet about happy cities and public transit. Managing Principal @HappyCities. Co-Founder @ Transport For Cairo. Halifax, NS <-> Vancouver, BC.
Wow, the Maritimes have 2-3x fewer people who live within 30 minute walk of grocery stores. Terrible statistics from StatCAN's new spatial access metrics.
July 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Wow, the Maritimes have 2-3x fewer people who live within 30 minute walk of grocery stores. Terrible statistics from StatCAN's new spatial access metrics.
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
Lighting makes a bigger difference for mood and productivity than we give it credit. I remember when we were forced back to an office with very little light, after working from home in a well-lit room. It took the life and happiness right out of me.
February 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Lighting makes a bigger difference for mood and productivity than we give it credit. I remember when we were forced back to an office with very little light, after working from home in a well-lit room. It took the life and happiness right out of me.
Spent years at DAL in a basement and this is what planning students today get 😂
Oh the natural light
Oh the natural light
February 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Spent years at DAL in a basement and this is what planning students today get 😂
Oh the natural light
Oh the natural light
Working on permitting for three 4-5 unit buildings that would never have been possible or feasible without the recent HAF changes.
2 will replace empty lots. 1 will replace an aging, energy-sucking SFH with 4 energy efficient 2-bedroom units.
All within the peninsula. Planning works when it works.
2 will replace empty lots. 1 will replace an aging, energy-sucking SFH with 4 energy efficient 2-bedroom units.
All within the peninsula. Planning works when it works.
February 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Working on permitting for three 4-5 unit buildings that would never have been possible or feasible without the recent HAF changes.
2 will replace empty lots. 1 will replace an aging, energy-sucking SFH with 4 energy efficient 2-bedroom units.
All within the peninsula. Planning works when it works.
2 will replace empty lots. 1 will replace an aging, energy-sucking SFH with 4 energy efficient 2-bedroom units.
All within the peninsula. Planning works when it works.
I always feel weird trying to make the business case for placemaking. Feels like creating great places should just be a thing we value.
But well, just happens there is a business case:
happycities.com/blog/the-bus...
But well, just happens there is a business case:
happycities.com/blog/the-bus...
The business case for placemaking — Happy Cities
To strengthen local economies, create places that people want to spend time in.
happycities.com
February 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I always feel weird trying to make the business case for placemaking. Feels like creating great places should just be a thing we value.
But well, just happens there is a business case:
happycities.com/blog/the-bus...
But well, just happens there is a business case:
happycities.com/blog/the-bus...
How to make an entrance
January 17, 2025 at 5:57 AM
How to make an entrance
Beautiful contrasts
January 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Beautiful contrasts
The Egyptian King ❤️
December 23, 2024 at 12:06 PM
The Egyptian King ❤️
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
What keeps you joyful and motivated in the face of big challenges?
As our team starts to wind down for the holidays, we reflected on the big and small wins that keep us energized to do more.
Check out our last newsletter of 2024 for holiday tunes, reads, and causes: mailchi.mp/happycities/...
As our team starts to wind down for the holidays, we reflected on the big and small wins that keep us energized to do more.
Check out our last newsletter of 2024 for holiday tunes, reads, and causes: mailchi.mp/happycities/...
On joy, rest, and optimism
Reflections on the year ahead. Plus: joyful tunes, feel-good stories, and causes to give back to this holiday season.
mailchi.mp
December 19, 2024 at 5:23 PM
What keeps you joyful and motivated in the face of big challenges?
As our team starts to wind down for the holidays, we reflected on the big and small wins that keep us energized to do more.
Check out our last newsletter of 2024 for holiday tunes, reads, and causes: mailchi.mp/happycities/...
As our team starts to wind down for the holidays, we reflected on the big and small wins that keep us energized to do more.
Check out our last newsletter of 2024 for holiday tunes, reads, and causes: mailchi.mp/happycities/...
Spent my first few days back home going through old books and pictures. Found a baby pic of mine from a daycare report. Some serious shit-disturber energy in that picture 😂
December 20, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Spent my first few days back home going through old books and pictures. Found a baby pic of mine from a daycare report. Some serious shit-disturber energy in that picture 😂
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
What does a welcoming entrance look like?
Many people cross paths going in and out of an apartment building. But it's not often they stop to chat. Social design features can help.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
Many people cross paths going in and out of an apartment building. But it's not often they stop to chat. Social design features can help.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
December 18, 2024 at 6:02 PM
What does a welcoming entrance look like?
Many people cross paths going in and out of an apartment building. But it's not often they stop to chat. Social design features can help.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
Many people cross paths going in and out of an apartment building. But it's not often they stop to chat. Social design features can help.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
Joyful Cities - Holiday Playlist 2024
Playlist · Hannah Gibbler · 80 items · 6 saves
open.spotify.com
December 17, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
Can hallways be more than just a means to get to and from your front door? This cozy elevator nook at Little Mountain Cohousing says yes.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to create more social circulation spaces: happycities.com/building-soc...
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to create more social circulation spaces: happycities.com/building-soc...
December 12, 2024 at 6:35 PM
Can hallways be more than just a means to get to and from your front door? This cozy elevator nook at Little Mountain Cohousing says yes.
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to create more social circulation spaces: happycities.com/building-soc...
Download our new housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbourcollective.ca to learn how to create more social circulation spaces: happycities.com/building-soc...
If you had to choose, what’s the first lesson you would give someone about cities?
Mine: transportation habits shape our cities, showing how cities evolved in response to whatever the dominant mode of transportation of the time was. I think it was a big light bulb moment for me when I realized
Mine: transportation habits shape our cities, showing how cities evolved in response to whatever the dominant mode of transportation of the time was. I think it was a big light bulb moment for me when I realized
December 7, 2024 at 1:53 PM
If you had to choose, what’s the first lesson you would give someone about cities?
Mine: transportation habits shape our cities, showing how cities evolved in response to whatever the dominant mode of transportation of the time was. I think it was a big light bulb moment for me when I realized
Mine: transportation habits shape our cities, showing how cities evolved in response to whatever the dominant mode of transportation of the time was. I think it was a big light bulb moment for me when I realized
I have seen this anecdotally with clients and people I know who had undevelopable lots that suddenly became developable. Also developable projects that had more units built due to HAF. More currently in progress, more going to come into play.
Halifax legalized rowhouses on formerly single family lots, and early indications are they did it properly.
Every zoning reform needs to come with measures of success, and the primary one needs to be the number of homes built.
Every zoning reform needs to come with measures of success, and the primary one needs to be the number of homes built.
December 5, 2024 at 9:47 PM
I have seen this anecdotally with clients and people I know who had undevelopable lots that suddenly became developable. Also developable projects that had more units built due to HAF. More currently in progress, more going to come into play.
Single stair has potential to be one the most transformative policy pieces for boosting wellbeing and environmental performance of apartment buildings.
If you're curious about #SingleStair architecture and building codes, here are 3 key docs on dropbox:
- report by Mike Eliason that kicked off much of the single stair movement in north America
- Report for BC Housing by PUBLIC arch
- Precedents from Seattle
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5nk4z...
- report by Mike Eliason that kicked off much of the single stair movement in north America
- Report for BC Housing by PUBLIC arch
- Precedents from Seattle
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5nk4z...
December 5, 2024 at 9:10 PM
Single stair has potential to be one the most transformative policy pieces for boosting wellbeing and environmental performance of apartment buildings.
Balconies are a pretty controversial topic. They have benefits when well designed. But they also have financial, environmental and maintenance costs. When they’re poorly designed, it’s even worse because then you dont even get the benefit.
Here’s how to make sure they work:
Here’s how to make sure they work:
Do balconies really matter for wellbeing?
People are unlikely to use balconies that are too small or exposed. We’ve identified design strategies for more social balconies, connecting neighbours to each other—& their community.
Learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
@heyneighbour.bsky.social
People are unlikely to use balconies that are too small or exposed. We’ve identified design strategies for more social balconies, connecting neighbours to each other—& their community.
Learn more: happycities.com/building-soc...
@heyneighbour.bsky.social
November 27, 2024 at 11:14 PM
Balconies are a pretty controversial topic. They have benefits when well designed. But they also have financial, environmental and maintenance costs. When they’re poorly designed, it’s even worse because then you dont even get the benefit.
Here’s how to make sure they work:
Here’s how to make sure they work:
My kid is a massive fan of buses. Buses are cool. Support transit.
November 26, 2024 at 10:25 PM
My kid is a massive fan of buses. Buses are cool. Support transit.
Wonderful to see!
In our 7x7 mile city, SF now has 75 miles of transit-only lanes. Result:
- Buses up to 35% faster
- 50% reduction in injury collisions on transit corridors
- Highest public approval rating since 2001
- Over 10 lines exceeding pre-COVID ridership
www.sfmta.com/blog/decade-...
- Buses up to 35% faster
- 50% reduction in injury collisions on transit corridors
- Highest public approval rating since 2001
- Over 10 lines exceeding pre-COVID ridership
www.sfmta.com/blog/decade-...
A Decade of Change: How Muni Forward is Transforming San Francisco
www.sfmta.com
November 26, 2024 at 3:37 AM
Wonderful to see!
Engineering standards were in many ways a product of the car industry. The earliest institutes that set these standards and distributed them across NA were funded by car companies.
They changed laws and regulations to make cars at the center.
They changed laws and regulations to make cars at the center.
People out here describing protected bike lanes and pedestrianization as massive social engineering project as if the automobile's takeover of American cities was a natural weather event
November 25, 2024 at 11:47 PM
Engineering standards were in many ways a product of the car industry. The earliest institutes that set these standards and distributed them across NA were funded by car companies.
They changed laws and regulations to make cars at the center.
They changed laws and regulations to make cars at the center.
What’s something you think is true that most people don’t know?
November 25, 2024 at 11:44 PM
What’s something you think is true that most people don’t know?
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
Planners call it the "Popsicle Test" for a walkable, child-friendly neighbourhood. Can a child safely walk to a store, buy a popsicle, and get home before it melts?
November 23, 2024 at 1:06 PM
Planners call it the "Popsicle Test" for a walkable, child-friendly neighbourhood. Can a child safely walk to a store, buy a popsicle, and get home before it melts?
The Happy Cities curling team is ready to take on the curling world. Watch out everyone.
November 22, 2024 at 7:28 PM
The Happy Cities curling team is ready to take on the curling world. Watch out everyone.
Reposted by Houssam Elokda
What makes a great courtyard?
Explore our new #housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbour.bsky.social to learn more about how to create social outdoor spaces 🌱
Download the free toolkit today! happycities.com/building-soc...
Explore our new #housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbour.bsky.social to learn more about how to create social outdoor spaces 🌱
Download the free toolkit today! happycities.com/building-soc...
November 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM
What makes a great courtyard?
Explore our new #housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbour.bsky.social to learn more about how to create social outdoor spaces 🌱
Download the free toolkit today! happycities.com/building-soc...
Explore our new #housing design toolkit w/ @heyneighbour.bsky.social to learn more about how to create social outdoor spaces 🌱
Download the free toolkit today! happycities.com/building-soc...