Co-living is not for everyone, but I think it is one solution to the loneliness crisis. It’s certainly something I’d consider if I was moving to another city and wanted to live somewhere while I found my feet and figured out which area I wanted to live in, and who I wanted to live with, but I don’t think I could cope with the lack of space longer-term.

Some critics have deemed co-living infantilising, saying it strips away responsibilities by encouraging people to “outsource the concept of parents” and prolongs the state of perpetual adolescence. They might have a point, but that fails to acknowledge the changing ways people live and the new challenges they face.

Now that getting on the property ladder is the stuff of fantasy, more and more of us have no qualms about embracing the freedom of being digital nomads – 1.7m Instagram posts are hashtagged #digitalnomad – bouncing between houseshares, travelling regularly or relocating for work. Surely having the option to live somewhere that promotes human connection through face time rather than FaceTime has to be a good thing?

Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman thinks so. “In an increasingly digital world, co-living can help to boost self-esteem by creating a tangible sense of community. We are sociable beings, and it’s valuable to feel connected and appreciated while also being able to close the door and have our own space when we want it.”

On a Monday evening at Fizzy Living Lewisham, residents from diverse backgrounds mingle in the rooftop garden as the sun melts over the city skyline. It’s a vision of inclusive and welcoming urban living that anyone would be proud to be part of. Especially as a lot of us know what it’s like to be surrounded by people and things, yet feel bored or lonely.

In our expensive, expansive cities where people yearn to feel a part of something and space is at a premium, co-living offers a solution. Albeit a tiny-spaced one. It may not be for everyone, but for those willing to try it, there’s a whole world of connections just outside your door.

“I spent the night in 3 different ‘co-living spaces’. Here’s what I learned”