Community does not only mean proximity; it needs a setting that makes gatherings natural. It needs space, pace and a few simple occasions in which neighbours can begin to get to know one another.
YOLA 71, our previous project with 223 flats, shows this in practice. The development was designed with controlled access and an internal park of around 2,500 m² — a shared space, clear and protected enough to become part of everyday life.
After the first residents moved in, the developer organised the first community gathering in the park. It was a block party, with entertainers, games, prizes, a barbecue, drinks for adults and activities for children. It was not a formal event, more a beginning.
Over time, the gathering became part of the calendar there. Building management continued the initiative, and it became an annual event, then twice a year. More recently, the community also gathered for Ziua Copilului, Children's Day on 1 June.
What matters here is not just the party itself. What counts is that the shared space could carry it. The park gives children and parents a safe place, and a simple setting for conversations between neighbours.
This is where you see the difference between a facility listed in a brochure and a place people actually enjoy.
For YOLA LAC, the lesson is direct: a good life does not end at the front door. It continues with driveways, gardens, shared spaces and the way the project makes it easy for people to get together.
Community should not be forced, but it must be made possible!