Designing Wellbeing: the MeM study for the WellHOME project

Nowadays, the built environment has a profound impact on the quality of life, and designing welcoming spaces for vulnerable people requires a rigorous, conscious approach based on scientific evidence.

For this reason, within the framework of the European WellHOME project, MeM has developed an articulated study aimed at understanding the real environmental, educational and emotional needs of the users and operators involved.

Through the use of three separate instruments — aimed respectively at social workers, fragile users and the analysis of physical spaces — we have collected valuable data allowing us to draw a clear and multidimensional picture of the needs to be met.

The results of our study:

• Operators: There is a widespread need for practical and accessible environmental design tools, with a focus on colour psychology, daylight management and the creation of controlled multisensory spaces.

• Vulnerable users: Participants highlighted the need for easy-to-read environments, integrated visual and verbal communication, short training sessions, tactile materials and assistive tools, confirming the importance of an inclusive and adaptive approach.

• Reception areas: Operators identified natural light, customisation of the environment, the use of relaxing colours and the presence of natural elements as priority elements for guest wellbeing. On the other hand, the lack of aesthetic harmony, the absence of sensory links and the functional rigidity of the spaces were among the main criticisms.

MeM’s strategy for the future

Based on these findings, MeM has defined a training strategy that focuses on

• Simplifying the complex concepts of colour theory and environmental psychology into usable knowledge;

• Using a learning-by-doing methodology, with practical examples and real design failures;

• Adopting observation and data collection tools as key skills for informed design;

• Building adaptive, multisensory and truly regenerative environments.The ultimate goal is not to transform users into expert designers, but to provide concrete tools for reading, interpreting and improving everyday spaces to support the well-being, autonomy, and dignity of the most vulnerable people.

A project for change

Our mission is to translate scientific research into concrete design and training practices, because we believe that a more conscious environmental design can restore value, opportunity, and well-being to those living in vulnerable situations today.

The WellHOME project is now moving forward with the definition of the training content, which will be developed and tested in collaboration with the European partners over the coming months.

Follow us to discover how we are changing the approach to designing spaces… as

ANY environment can become a place of rebirth.