The wonderful weather continues and people lucky enough to have gardens, including myself, are doubtless enjoying them to the full. However, I am mindful that for people living in flats with no access to outside space, or at best only a communal garden, the sunshine can be unbearably teasing or stifling.
The enforced isolation of Lockdown has heightened public and media awareness of mental health issues especially depression and loneliness. The government and scientists acknowledge that fresh air personal space greenery and contact with the outside world are not only desirable but are essential in maintaining physical and mental health. Monty Don advocates container gardening for mental wellbeing as growing and caring for plants helps us to fulfil a basic nurturing instinct.
A simple solution is the provision of balconies, not the ‘Juliette’ type, but instead usable space – i.e. adequate size to accommodate a table, couple of chairs and a few plants. An area for people to sit and relax, enjoy drinks meals social interaction or simply ‘people watch’. A space that can be personalised with plants.
Lockdown will end eventually but life will never be the same. Building design will have to be innovative with health placed at the forefront of design. My suggestion is that future multi-story buildings should not provide occasional balconies, but instead a balcony for every flat.
Architects focus on exteriors and Interior Designers ‘bring the outside in’. Working together we can create beautiful and practical ‘lifetime’ living solutions.