JDDK Architects - Millmount News Spring Edition 2024 - Magazine - Page 10
T H E D I S C O V E RY
Building
with nature
to enhance
wellbeing
By Stuart Franklin,
Associate Director at JDDK Architects
By Otis Murdoch,
Architect at JDDK Architects
Natural spaces in our cities
and urban environments are
an underused answer to many
societal challenges we face.
Prudhoe Hall Estate, Northumberland
Worsening mental health, poor air quality, and limited recreational spaces are issues
city-goers face every day, and the pressures on everyday life caused by these problems
can no longer be ignored.
The built environment has a major in昀氀uence on the urban quality-of-life – when views out of buildings
showcase natural landscapes, plants are extracting carbon from the air and green spaces are accessible
to all, then people begin to feel better connected to their environment. In answer to this growing
responsibility, architecture projects are considering the integration of nature much more than they have
done in previous years.
At JDDK our designs are often in昀氀uenced by nature as part of our continued commitment to making
our built environment more sustainable and giving users a meaningful connection to the natural world
through the spaces they inhabit every day. As humans we are intrinsically connected to the earth and can
feel our wellbeing depleting when we are deprived of nature’s presence.
Here we explore the different methods for integrating nature into a range of buildings, from healthcare
through to of昀椀ces, and how any construction or refurbishment project can be practical in bringing
elements of the outdoors inside for users to enjoy.
10 Millmount. Spring 2024.
