CULTIVATING SANCTUARY
as humans, we’re drowning in an abundance of material goods, much of it disposable. None of this excess seems to have made us happier, however. If anything, our long hours of optimised working and living have made us socially isolated, leading to loneliness and growing anxiety fed by economic uncertainty or climate crisis fears.
Not surprising, then, that we want to reconnect with the idea of living well. For many, this means creating homes geared towards good health and peace of mind. Many homeowners and residential developers now consider all aspects of wellbeing, from the planning stages of a build to decisions about colour, lighting, soundproofing and the role that nature plays in family spaces.
“I think the growing ideal of our home as a ‘sanctuary’ is a natural progression in an increasingly busy society,” Phillip Rossington, principal architect at BVN Sydney, explains. “Interestingly, it’s not only homes moving in this direction. Workplaces, schools and universities are also creating relaxed, sanctuary-like spaces. At [residential apartment tower] Emblem in Waterloo, for example, the developer allowed us to create the major communal garden and amenity area on level eight of the tower to capture the
