Happy by Design: A Guide to Architecture and Mental Wellbeing

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This is often the first piece of advice I give people when they ask what one thing they should do to make their home a better place to spend time in. I also see this work as being incredibly important for the design of affordable housing, as data, unfortunately, shows that the less well-off someone is, the more likely they are to suffer with mental health issues. The author of Happy by Design: A Guide to Architecture and Wellbeing (2019, RIBA Publishing), Ben regularly speaks on this subject to businesses and universities around the world. Ben is a passionate advocate of improving mental health within architecture, and has worked hard to change the working culture and practices in the industry, both in the UK and abroad. If you have the choice between materials, furniture or ornaments that feel either machine or hand-made, opt for the latter.

Once I’d tied down the foundation of the book, it was a laborious but enjoyable process of writing, editing, sketching, checking, debating, thinking, sweating and a little swearing that led me to this point, where the book is published and available for purchase. He is also an accredited mindfulness practitioner with the Mindfulness Association, and is interested in how buildings can help us to be more mindful and present every day. He developed an interest in design for mental health, wellbeing and happiness after suffering with anxiety problems in his mid-twenties. The result is ‘Happy by Design’, which I hope will widen the debate around mental wellbeing in the built environment and help us all understand that we have control over our immediate surroundings and can make changes that will better our sense of wellbeing.

They listened to exactly what I wanted, produced a great design and were happy to incorporate any revisions and additions I asked for. Within architecture – and many other sectors – there’s an almost masochistic approach to studying and work, where all-nighters and skipped breakfasts are seen as rites of passage and signs of commitment. Work in Mind columnist Ben Channon has collaborated with RIBA to launch a new evidence-based book that aims to help readers create happier, healthier places. He is the Mental Wellbeing Ambassador at the practice, and is an accredited mindfulness practitioner with the Mindfulness Association.

Smart shutters Shutters with adjustable slats are useful for controlling the light or privacy levels in a room throughout the day because they can be opened or closed as required and angled to let the light in while still providing privacy from outside. Published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Happy by Design aims to inspire and motivate architects to design for the human experience, while also appealing to the wider public. Warm colours on the other hand can be relaxing and calming, as they’re shown to promote the release of serotonin. Alongside my day job, I’m also a qualified mental health first aider and an accredited mindfulness practitioner with the Mindfulness Association, running regular mindfulness sessions at Assael for colleagues. A new social and ecological prerogative demands appropriate material choices, a re-invention of construction and evolving building programmes that look at lifecycle, embodied energy and energy use.At The Tramyard, for example, our homeowners are just minutes away from Balham Leisure centre, DW Fitness First, and the athletics track, tennis courts and open-air lido on Tooting Bec Common. Through a series of design tips and hand-drawn diagrams, this accessible guide can be used by everyone from employers looking to boost office morale or homeowners looking to DIY their way to a happier home. When designing buildings, it is therefore extremely important to consider how you can improve both the quantity and quality of daylight, internally and within landscaping. This may sound simplistic but designing for people should be the fundamental approach of all architects – as proven by many of the greats from the twentieth century, such as Alvar Aalto and Louis Kahn. For those seeking to start from the ground up, ‘Happy by Design’ contains layout guidance, room proportions and positioning to make sure that homes are happy, from the front door to the roof tiles.