Enhancing Health and Wellbeing in Sustainable, Accessible Spaces

Environmental Design, Health, and Wellbeing in SDA Homes

Environmental design and the connection that our places of residence, care and respite have with the natural environment has become increasingly considered and prioritised within the last century. From the modernist Le Corbusier’s, overhead windows in his 1963 conceptual Venice hospital, to the ‘healing design’ research of environmental psychologist Robert Ulrich, we have arrived at a time where ‘Healthy Buildings’ mean healthier and happier people and where we strive to enhance our lives by getting closer to nature in all types of spaces. Inside homes, in our places of care and even in our workplaces we aim to reconnect to nature through better access to things like natural daylight and ventilation, through biophilic design (bringing nature closer) and by creating more easily accessible outdoor spaces.

Why Nature Matters in SDA Design

At the heart of the NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard are principles focused on improving the lives of participants. These include:

• Creating environments that enable vibrant, safe, and independent living.
• Maximising occupants’ capacity to lead autonomous lives.
• Providing homes that support wellbeing, comfort, and choice.

Connecting to the natural environment plays a key role in achieving these outcomes, ensuring SDA dwellings promote health, happiness, and independence. Read Vera Living's complete guide to SDA here.

Natural Light and Ventilation in SDA Homes

Sufficient access to natural light as well as effective cross-ventilation are two of the most important and achievable elements in good environmental design. These elements are not only passive environmental control and energy efficiency methods, but are also of paramount importance when it comes to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of occupants.

These features improve wellbeing by:

• Improving sleep, by controlling the body’s circadian system
• Elevating mood and perception
• Facilitating essential processes like the metabolism of Vitamin D

More obvious and physical factors that also have a positive effect on occupant well-being include effective temperature regulation and the simple presence of a fresh breeze.

In SDA homes, natural light and cross-ventilation can be maximised through

• Wide-opening, automated windows/doors on opposing perimeters
• Skylights
• Automated blinds with varying levels of transparency

These elements give residents autonomy over their environment while keeping them connected to natural elements.

Biophilic Design – Bringing the Outdoors In

Biophilic design focuses on increasing residents’ connection with nature. This goes beyond light and airflow to include:

• Green walls on balconies or courtyards.
• Large indoor plants in living areas.
• Wheelchair-accessible gardens, planter boxes, and outdoor spaces with natural views.

By integrating nature directly into daily living, biophilic design supports both mental and physical health for NDIS participants.

Communal Gardens and Shared Outdoor Spaces

Active engagement with outdoor environments offers significant benefits for SDA residents. Accessible communal gardens or planter boxes allow participants to:

• Experience a sense of agency and achievement through gardening.
• Access fresh, healthy foods like herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
• Reduce stress, build self-esteem, and enhance wellbeing.
• Foster social connections and community participation.

Shared outdoor spaces are therefore not just functional but essential for enhancing lifestyle quality in SDA homes.

Vera Living

In addition to providing innovative and stylish homes, Vera Living strive to deliver places that connect occupants with the environment, are energy efficient and enable vibrant and social lives. We coordinate the design, build and management of SDA properties around Australia. Explore vacancies here and get in touch to discuss your SDA journey with us.

Why Choose Vera Living?

• 300+ participants supported into homes that offer a lifestyle
• 500+ purpose-built high-quality homes in well-connected locations
• In-house Tenant Experience Specialist for each tenant
• Long-term lease options to maximise choice and control
• No lock-in contracts. No bonds. Pet friendly.
• Supported families to live together with Appendix H funding

With a focus on accessibility, location, and quality finishes, Vera Living creates homes that truly enhance the lives of people living with disability.