People, Place and the Power of Landscape

By Lindsey Webster, Principal Landscape Architect & Director of L+ Living

At L+ Living, we design landscapes for how people actually experience the world – how they move through a site, where they pause, how they feel when they arrive, and what draws them in.

Whether it’s a regeneration site, a school, or a later living community, one thing is always true: the spaces between buildings shape how people behave, how they connect with each other, and how happy they feel being there.

That’s why we work from the very start of every project alongside the architects and interiors team – to design landscapes that make people feel grounded, oriented and at ease.

Wayfinding Begins with Landscape

A well-designed landscape helps people find their way without necessarily needing a sign. We use planting, light, changes in material and rhythm to create intuitive routes and gentle thresholds – helping people navigate spaces with confidence, even when they are unfamiliar or neurodivergent.

This is essential in:

• Mixed-use developments with layered residential and public spaces
• Schools, campuses and SEND environments
• Later living schemes where cognitive ease is critical
• Regeneration sites that need to feel welcoming, not overwhelming

“People don’t remember buildings – they remember how a place made them feel. And that’s often about the landscape.” Lindsey Webster, Principal Landscape Architect.

Biophilic Landscapes Make People Happier

We bring biophilic principles into every landscape we design – using natural materials, planting, sound and light to engage the senses and reduce stress.

Studies show that biophilic design:

• Lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels
• Supports attention and focus (especially for children and neurodivergent users)
• Increases social interaction and sense of belonging
• Enhances property values and dwell time in commercial settings

Our work supports PAS 6463 and the WELL Building Standard – but more importantly, it supports the real people who use these places every day.

Designing Emotionally Intelligent Places

We consider emotional response at every level. Is this path welcoming or anxious? Does this courtyard invite gathering or encourage retreat? Are there moments of softness, shelter, and delight?

Our design thinking includes:

• Zoning for energy levels – from lively communal areas to quiet retreat spaces
• Sensory variation – using planting, texture, sound and shade to support mood and attention
• Visual cues – planting as markers, trees as anchors, colour as a signal
• Comfort and dignity – particularly in later living and care environments, where well-designed outdoor spaces can restore independence and self-esteem

It All Begins with Collaboration

Because we are embedded within L+ Architects, we collaborate from the earliest RIBA stages – shaping site layout, access, SuDS, thresholds and views together.

The result? Places that feel coherent, human and genuinely loved.

We’re currently working on projects across London and the South East, including:

• Mixed-use schemes with richly layered public realm
• Apartment developments with roof terraces, sensory gardens and SuDS
• Schools designed for neurodiverse pupils with outdoor learning and calm zones
• Later living communities with edible gardens, therapeutic planting, and inclusive wayfinding

Get in touch to find out more: Pablo Lambrechts (Principal Architect & CEO) / Lindsey Webster (Director, L+ Living | Principal Landscape Architect) via office@lplusarchitects.com