DWELLBEING
DWELLBEING IS A DESIGN STUDIO LOCATED IN WATERFORD, IRELAND WORKING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY BRINGING TOGETHER FLOW PRACTITIONERS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, FINANCIAL PROJECT MANAGERS TO CREATE OPTIMAL SPATIAL FLOW + MINDFUL ARCHITECTURE
Waterford Design Lab
FOUNDED BY AWARD-WINNING DESIGN COACH KAREN DOUGLAS, DWELLBEING IS A HUMAN CENTRED DESIGN STUDIO BASED IN WATERFORD CITY, OFFERING A RANGE OF DESIGN COACHING AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TO THOSE ON A HOME RENOVATION JOURNEY. THE KEY PHILOSOPHY IS ABOUT EMPOWERING HOMEOWNERS TO DESIGN THEIR SPACES FOR HOW THEY LIVE IN A COLLABORATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SETTING.
Along with being a director of an architectural practice for the past 8 years, Karen, a Lean Practitioner holds a Black Belt in Six Sigma and sees first-hand the challenges for clients when undertaking a home project and the power of good spatial flow when combined with architecture to bring a rigor and personalisation to every home. The practice prides itself on taking a holistic view to ensure that every family members needs are considered, and every project is managed well to handover.
The Idea
Coming into architecture over 8 years ago with over 20 years commercial and coaching expertise, Karen saw first-hand many challenges for both the architect and client and indeed the process. For the architect, gathering the brief is a time- consuming and onerous task in the absence of behavioural training or strong people skills and for the customer the process of engaging the architect and understanding the design process can be fraught with uncertainty and mis-communication, often leading to expensive and time-consuming mistakes.
Karen’s own first home build experience in her mid 20’s with an architect resulted in a home that was the architects signature design. She was given little information and insight into the design process which meant that goals, needs and wants were largely overlooked in favour of the architect’s signature design style of the time.
Understandably, as the family expanded, the house failed to meet their growing physical and practical needs meaning their forever home no longer functioned.
Karen understands the critical importance of listening and designing for the human dynamic as a result and is passionate that every home-owner has the tools and knowledge in simple language to design their spaces for their own well-being. She also now knows that a home renovation project cannot and must not be undertaken by one person only and a multi-disciplinary approach is needed that brings together the flow specialist + architect + finance + project manager + technical team
Dwellbeing brings together this team to bring a highly unique and new, tried and tested model of home design that delivers not only a quality project but the peace of mind that every decision is well tested for the client.
Understandably, as the family expanded, the house failed to meet their growing physical and practical needs meaning their forever home no longer functioned.