A powerful new article from AHR explores the growing importance of trauma-informed design, a discipline that recognises how our built environment directly affects emotional wellbeing, particularly for people with lived experiences of trauma, neurodivergence, or mental health challenges.
Their work highlights how thoughtful decisions about layout, materials, lighting, acoustics and finishes can foster calm, predictability, and choice – helping people feel emotionally safe, in control, and respected. This is especially relevant in settings like hospitals, mental health units, and SEND schools, where user needs are highly varied and complex.
At Trovex, we share this approach in the way we design and develop products for healthcare environments. Our systems don’t just meet technical and infection-control requirements, they’re created to enhance the experience of everyone using the space.
The article also references the University of Salford’s Health and Wellbeing Building - one of the first higher education projects in the UK to embed trauma-informed design from first principles. The lessons drawn from this project are just as relevant for healthcare - where feeling safe, seen and supported is critical to recovery and wellbeing.
From predictable layouts to acoustic control and flexible spaces, trauma-informed design enhances inclusive design by considering not just physical access, but how people feel in a space. And when these principles are applied consistently - from the earliest design decisions through to product selection and ongoing maintenance - they have the power to transform healthcare settings into places of healing, dignity and trust.
It’s an approach we’re proud to support through every product we make.
https://www.ahr.co.uk/news/how-trauma-informed-design-is-shaping-more-inclusive-spaces – a recommended read for anyone involved in designing or delivering healthcare spaces.
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