Why is the Built Environment so important?

Look around you when you are out and about – does what you see depress you? Or please you? Or don’t you even notice?When you enter and use buildings or walk between buildings and down streets, how do you feel – cold, gloomy and intimidated; or free, happy and inspired? Not only do we want to be wowed, but more importantly we want to feel safe, comfortable and happy to be where we are.A large part of these feelings are attributed to the built environment around you. It is not only the buildings that need to be well considered, but the spaces between them. The design of our built environment affects us all – particularly children and young people.Designed well, the built environment enhances the development and well being of children and young people, and supports healthier communities.There are opportunities for all of us to influence and improve our local environment, to make it more ‘friendly’. Ways to encourage change include looking around you, taking note and commenting.The built environment has the ability to inspire everyone’s imagination, and to enable social interactions with friends, family, the community and nature. The places and spaces that people inhabit fundamentally influence their enjoyment of life, so getting it right should be a priority for us all.Getting it right is something that we are passionate about and strongly believe that the only way to install a subconscious reaction to the built environment is to start to open young peoples eyes to what is around them…to help them start to formulate opinions on it, and to begin to understand what it is that makes good architecture, good spaces, and happy, safe, comfortable places for us to live, work and play in. Educating children from the age of 5 in the design process is a start…