About

Design Decoded Ltd was established by Interior Designer Rachel Partridge, who has a passion for fusing the old with the new. By re-purposing old (and in some cases disused or neglected) buildings we can help to solve what is becoming an increasingly evident housing shortage problem, whist also giving our heritage and history a sympathetic new lease of life. Our homes need to be our sanctuary and creating these spaces can be realised successfully with sustainability in mind.

Wherever possible being able to connect with nature provides us with mental health benefits - any way that interior design and interior architecture can facilitate this deserves attention. Biophilia refers to the fact that as human beings, we have an instinctive bond with nature and our natural surroundings. In turn, biophilic design takes this bond and works to apply it to spaces where we live, shop, relax and work. This can be achieved by employing a variety of mediums from using natural products such as wood and stone through to implementing glazing that brings the outside into more focus within our homes and workspaces.

Sustainable design is about quantitative aspects, minimising the impacts on our natural world and sustaining natural resources through energy conservation.  Biophilic design adds a more qualitative aspect to the sustainability. For example, biophilic design explains how the presence of natural light is essential to improving wellbeing, by using natural light, not only are you connecting with nature, but also reducing the use of artificial light, in turn saving energy and improving sustainability.

 An integrated perspective that understands the human need for nature, actively seeks to incorporate biophilic design elements into a space and recognises the need for balanced resource consumption and environmental preservation, could achieve both health and wellness goals.