Inclusive Design in Real Estate: Creating human centric Interiors
Biofilico student lounge concept design for Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
What is Human-Centered Design in Interiors?
Human-centered design is an approach to designing spaces that places the needs, behaviors, and experiences of people at the core of the design process. In interiors, it means creating environments that respond to the diverse needs of individuals, offering comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging.
It’s about understanding the people who use a space, considering their physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences, and designing accordingly.
Inclusive and universal design thinking
In real estate, human-centered design moves beyond aesthetics to prioritize functionality, accessibility, and inclusivity, ensuring that every individual can fully engage with their surroundings.
Human-centered design aims to foster well-being by considering all aspects of a person's experience, typically by using inclusive design tools and a series of small and simple interventions that add up to make a meaningful impact by subtly affecting human behavior.
Whether it’s a residential building, an office, or a community center, the principles of this design approach ensure spaces are intuitive, accessible, and adaptable to different human needs. It's a form of creative problem solving that happens well in advance of the building being built.
Principles of Inclusive Design in Buildings and Interior Spaces
Inclusive design extends the philosophy of human-centered design by emphasizing accessibility for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. It strives to break down barriers in both public and private environments, ensuring that spaces are welcoming and usable by all.
In a rapidly aging world with diverse populations, inclusive design is increasingly recognized as a critical component of architecture and interiors.
At Biofilico, our approach to wellness interior design naturally aligns with the principles of inclusivity and its counterpart inclusive design. We strive to create spaces that promote well-being for everyone by integrating features such as biophilic design, tactile elements, and intuitive layouts.
Our projects are meant to enhance the human experience, considering a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory needs. We prefer not to leave anyone out!
Biofilico - student social space - concept design for Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
Why is human centered design important?
Inclusive design has far-reaching implications for real estate. Beyond the ethical responsibility of creating spaces that cater to everyone, it also makes financial sense.
Inclusivity broadens the market, attracting a more diverse set of occupants—whether it's a family with a disabled child, an elderly couple, or an office worker recovering from an injury.
By integrating inclusive elements, real estate developers can create spaces that accommodate life’s changes, fostering long-term loyalty and boosting property value.
Inclusive design in residential developments and workplaces
In residential projects, inclusive design ensures that homes are future-proofed, making them adaptable to changing needs. In the workplace, inclusive office interiors promote productivity and well-being by ensuring that employees of all abilities can comfortably use the space.
This leads to higher employee satisfaction, increased productivity, and improved talent retention—all of which are attractive to businesses leasing space. Thus, inclusive design not only contributes to social good but also enhances the bottom line for developers and landlords.
Key Principles of Inclusive Interior Design a. k.a human centered design
Accessibility for All:
A fundamental aspect of inclusive design is ensuring accessibility for people of all abilities. This includes incorporating features such as wide doorways, ramps, adjustable countertops, and tactile surfaces that help individuals navigate spaces safely and independently.
Flexibility:
Design should accommodate a wide variety of preferences and abilities. Flexible spaces that can be easily modified to suit different needs provide inclusivity. For instance, adjustable seating and adaptable workspaces can help cater to diverse physical and sensory requirements.
Equitable Use:
Spaces should be designed to be useful to people with diverse abilities without the need for adaptation. For example, entryways without steps, touchless controls, and intuitive signage are features that make spaces equally accessible to all users.
Simplicity and Intuitiveness:
Spaces should be easy to navigate and understand. Signage, pathways, and spatial layouts should be intuitive, reducing cognitive overload and making environments easier to use for people of all abilities.
Comfort and Well-being:
Spaces that are designed for comfort promote both physical and mental well-being. The use of biophilic elements, such as natural light, greenery, and ventilation, enhances the sensory experience of the space, contributing to relaxation and stress reduction.
The Human-Centric Interior Design Process
The human-centric interior design process involves actively involving users throughout the design journey.
At Biofilico, we embrace an iterative approach, beginning with user research to understand the diverse needs of our target audience. By integrating the feedback of end-users, we create spaces that genuinely address their needs.
1. Research and Empathy: The design process starts by understanding the end users—their routines, challenges, and preferences. This phase may involve interviews, surveys, and observation to develop a comprehensive understanding of the user experience.
2. Conceptualization: Based on the research, designers create concepts that align with the requirements of a diverse user base. This may involve prototyping, testing ideas, and gathering feedback from stakeholders to ensure the concepts address key user needs.
3. Iterative Testing: Prototypes or design mock-ups are tested by real users to gather insights. This iterative process allows designers to refine solutions, making them more accessible, intuitive, and engaging.
4. Implementation and Evaluation: Once a concept has been finalized and built, evaluation continues with users interacting with the actual space. This allows designers to gather data on the effectiveness of the space and make necessary adjustments.
Biofilico has used this process extensively in our wellness-focused interior design projects. For example, when creating biophilic spaces, we work directly with users to determine their needs—whether it is better air quality, reduced noise, or more opportunities to connect with nature—and develop solutions that deliver on those goals.
Examples of Effective User-Centered Design in Interiors made for human beings
Inclusive design has led to inspiring projects worldwide that exemplify how interiors can support diverse needs:
1. Community Spaces:
Public libraries are a great example of inclusive, user-centered design. Many modern libraries include quiet areas for reading, accessible workstations, children’s corners, and sensory rooms—all elements that make the space usable for everyone in the community.
2. Workplace Interiors:
Offices that prioritize wellness and inclusivity often feature a combination of collaborative spaces and quiet zones, ergonomic furniture for individuals with different needs, and biophilic elements to enhance comfort and reduce stress.
3. Wellness-Focused Residential Projects:
At Biofilico, we have worked on projects where sensory design, accessibility, and user engagement were paramount.
We have designed Zen Rooms for Fusion Group - purpose built student accommodation - around the UK, with an eye on improving student mental wellbeing by providing a quiet, safe space for Gen Z tenants to be alone, to share space with a small goup of trusted friends.
These 'recharge rooms' also have a place in high-pressure environments such as hospitals and universities
4.Accessible Gym Interiors: As our sister company Biofit specialises in gym interior design we are often asked to consider local regulations in the US for residential gym design projects, such as the two we delivered for Alpine Start Development in 2022-23 in Dallas, Texas.
Here we needed to be especially careful to allow adequate circulation space between each type of gym equipment, for wheelchair access.
So that means approximately 100cm of clear space between the treadmills and the exercise bikes for example, but not 100cm between each treadmill, or between each bike.
This ensured that at least one of each machine was wheelchair-friendly. A subtle but important detail from our perspective.
Accessibility and Universal Design in Buildings
Universal design (and human centred design - same concept basically) aims to make spaces usable by everyone without the need for adaptation. It involves proactively integrating accessible features so that they are a seamless part of the design, rather than added on afterward.
This approach to accessibility ensures that buildings are designed for all ages and abilities from the outset.
Examples of universal design , a.k.a human centred design
For example, a universally designed building may have an entrance without steps, wide hallways, tactile flooring to help those with visual impairments, and adaptable kitchen counters—all designed to accommodate a diverse set of users.
Biofilico’s approach aligns closely with universal design principles. Our wellness interiors focus on enhancing both physical and psychological well-being, incorporating elements that facilitate movement, sensory engagement, and accessibility for everyone.
Critiques and Limitations of user centered design
Despite its many benefits, inclusive design does face challenges and limitations. One critique is that creating truly inclusive spaces can be costly, as it often requires specialized design features and materials.
Additionally, there can be a lack of understanding or misinterpretation of what constitutes inclusive design, leading to half-hearted implementations that do not address all user needs.
Another challenge is the potential tension between aesthetic aspirations and accessibility requirements. In some cases, designers may struggle to balance the visual beauty of a space with the functionality required for inclusivity.
At Biofilico, we strive to overcome these limitations by working closely with stakeholders to ensure that beauty and accessibility coexist in harmony, resulting in environments that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Human centred design conclusion
Inclusive design in real estate is more than just a trend—it’s a necessary and beneficial approach to creating buildings that serve all members of society.
By prioritizing accessibility, flexibility, and comfort, developers and designers can create spaces that cater to a broad range of individuals, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.
At Biofilico, our commitment to human-centered, wellness-focused interior design aligns naturally with the principles of inclusive design.
Our work demonstrates how thoughtful, intentional design can create beautiful, functional, and accessible spaces that enhance the well-being of all occupants.
By adopting inclusive design, real estate developers can improve community well-being, create future-proof properties, and foster loyalty among occupants.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that every space—whether it is a home, an office, or a community center—has the power to support, uplift, and include everyone who uses it.