One of the biggest challenges for the architecture industry is creating a high quality built environment. The design must suit the needs of people who live and work in the area while also thinking of wellbeing and the environment. As some of the leading architects London has, we love designing with all of this in mind. It helps us to innovate and create some of the very best places.

Many elements

When most people think about the built environment, they focus on buildings. While they are the core of urban settings, there is much more to them. To get a really good design you must consider all of the other elements too. This includes anything that is human made and even some natural things like parks.

Roads and streets are some of the most vital aspects of these locations. Sadly they can also be some of the most harmful due to the materials and layout. The key to good design here is to think about place versus movement. Does moving traffic efficiently take priority? Or should the focus be on creating a calmer, cleaner, healthy place? Are all the roads strictly necessary? What about pavements and footpaths?

The built environment could not function without the right infrastructure. There is a lot to think about here, from drainage to water, gas, electrical, and telecommunication supplies. These features are often referred to as hard infrastructure. Designing them correctly is important to creating areas that support wellbeing. But thought should also be on making them efficient and as eco friendly as possible.

As well as the hard infrastructure above, there are elements known as soft infrastructure. These include hospitals, schools, and emergency services buildings. Yet again it is important to create them with wellbeing as well as the environment in mind.

Cities also feature a huge amount of public space. They help to knit everything together and also allow communities to come together. The spaces need careful design to ensure they are inclusive, safe, support all kinds of uses, and also help the environment. In terms of wellbeing, it is a good idea to include as much greenery and natural elements as possible.

Green and Brownfield land

One thing you will see in many built environments is Brownfield land. These are sites which were previously developed. They could feature old buildings or be plots where there has been demolition. There is a focus on redeveloping them to preserve natural Greenfield sites. However, many of the sites are tricky to work with due to issues like access and contamination. Good design and the right technology can often overcome these hurdles though.

Good designs for urban settings could also help to reduce the risk of creating more Brownfield sites. For example they could create buildings that are easier to re-purpose rather than standing derelict.

Working with leading architects in London

Coffey Architects is a team that knows how important it is to design high quality built environments. We also appreciate the new focus on supporting wellbeing and making spaces greener. We can help with this by looking at everything from designs to material choice and how to use land.

So, if you have a project in mind, why not work with some of the most thoughtful architects London can offer? We want to help enhance the built environment, whether we are designing homes, public buildings, commercial spaces, or infrastructure. You can contact us to speak about any kind of project.