Interior design concepts should be developed as a cohesive component of the overall building design, and good interior design should create spaces that are functional, safe, creative and engaging, by defining the space requirements and carefully selecting the finishes, balancing colours, lighting, and materials. Good interior designers are also able to balance regulatory requirements and the recommendations included in documents, such as British Standards. The interior design also needs to take into account the needs of all building users, which is especially true where specialist functions are required within the building, such as healthcare facilities or research and innovation space.

The demands on modern buildings reinforce the importance of good mental and physical health for everyone in society. Coupled with this, there is an increasing awareness of how the environment around us can have an effect on our wellbeing. With most of us spending over 80% of our time indoors, the quality of the built environment has a huge role to play. As Architects, we have a responsibility to create places that positively impact on the people who live, work and study in them.

In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of how the built environment can affect health and productivity, and its added benefits to help institutions flourish. Organisations are now focusing their efforts on how to use the built environment for mental health and wellbeing by encouraging choice, movement and relaxation, controlling temperature, noise levels and air quality, and introducing ergonomic furniture, plants, and breakout areas. These are all fundamental components of good interior design.

The Fitwel and WELL standards are two certification schemes that assess and reward healthy buildings. They work in a similar way to the BREEAM, the sustainability assessment method, with credits being awarded for implementing strategies for both the design and operation of the buildings and our teams can advise you on the best strategies for targeting these standards.

Using interior design to improve the built environment for mental health and wellbeing can be challenging, but research suggests that it can have a huge return on investment in the long term. The projects that have adopted this approach are displaying reduced absenteeism and increased happiness and productivity after 12 months.

If you would like to discuss how our approach to interior design can help you, then please get in touch.