Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and recall a few highlights from the year 2011. Adele released her breakout single titled “Rolling in the Deep”. The iPhone 4 was the latest piece of cutting-edge technology to hit the market. Oprah named San Luis Obispo “America’s Happiest City” (1) .
San Luis Obispo (SLO) offers the very best of what California has to offer. Mountains and coastline flank a vibrant community of residents who share a spirit for both the outdoors and a higher quality of life. Whether it be hiking, biking, surfing, walking, wine tasting, strolling farmers’ markets, creekside dining, or gardening; outdoor living is deeply intertwined into the fabric of local culture. As such, it’s not surprising that SLO is a happy city like Oprah suggested. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “Time spent in nature can boost physical and mental well-being" (2) .
The City of SLO from South Hills Open Space
A large part of why time spent in the great outdoors is directly correlated with improved overall well-being, in my opinion, is because it fosters community + social connectivity. That’s my favorite part of the work we do at Landwell. We create outdoor spaces that offer a new venue for social gathering. Patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, dining areas, lounges, pools, water features, firepits, turf, bocce ball courts, lighting, planting... the list is goes on.
Corten Composition
Anholm Backyard Renewal
South Hills Sanctuary
Here at Landwell, our motto is simple... Reside Outside. We live by this prescription both professionally and personally. We’re proud to have called SLO home since 2016 and we’re grateful for each opportunity to design + build a new outdoor living space. I guess you could say that in some small way, we believe our work is making SLO an even happier place, one project at a time.
A lot has happened since 2011. We navigated a global pandemic. Apple released 12 more iterations of the iPhone. And bicycles now have electric motors. And yet, from a much narrower lens, not a lot has changed. CNN Travel recently referred to San Luis Obispo in its list of America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2024 as, “The town that is pure California perfection” (3) . SLO continues to be a haven for those in search of community, quality of life, and outdoor living. I’d dare to say that San Luis Obispo is still America’s happiest city.