Designing Urban Spaces for Function and Wellness
Cities are our economic centers. The health of any city depends on the health of its residents and workers. Making space for residents and commuters to connect with nature can have a significant impact.
Studies have shown that being in nature helps us to reduce stress, increase happiness, relieve attention fatigue, increase creativity, be kinder, and be more generous. Reducing stress and increasing a sense of wellness will result in healthier, more productive people. What city doesn’t want people who are able to thrive?
Additionally, restoring the environment around us has endless benefits. From relieving stress on city systems through reclaiming rainwater instead of channeling it to storm drains to making an impact on improving the quality of air, an urban design that incorporates nature is a meaningful step in preserving nature.
The struggle every city faces, however, is that there is little room for nature amidst the urban environment.
Making the Greatest Impact with Limited Urban Space
At DG2 Design, we recognize that the opportunity to incorporate nature into the urban landscape is limited, which is why it is vital to understand the needs, assets, and barriers to any project.
The first step to every project is communication. The DG2 Design team will connect with the client and listen carefully to the challenges they are facing and the vision for the project. Once we have verified we are aligned with the vision for the project, we begin designing a space that utilizes the limited space for the maximum benefit.
Urban design, streetscape design, and transit design are areas in which the DG2 Design team enjoys working. The team is experienced in working with civil engineers, city planners, corporations, and others.
Quick Facts About DG2 Design
DG2 Design is a WBE/DBE business that values integrity and quality in their own work as well as the work of others. Their vision is to restore, nourish, and connect nature and people. Their mission is to do that through the design of outdoor spaces that allows nature and architecture to exist as counterparts to a whole, functioning space.
- DG2 Design is headquartered in Eureka, Missouri, with an additional location in Ozark, Missouri.
- The team is led by award-winning planning and landscape architect Kristy DeGuire
- DG2 Design is a small team with a values-first approach
- DG2 Design has partnered with many civil engineering and design firms and professionals in the same network time and again
- The team partners well with other companies and professionals because of their attention to detail and dedication to listening and communicating
Urban Spaces & Corporate Campuses
From past projects such as Fifth Street Saint Charles and the Muny to a rooftop project, DG2 Design is passionate about bringing nature back to places where it has been pushed out or minimized. DG2 Design can help any municipality, city, or corporation incorporate nature in a smart design for their urban outdoor space, streetscape, and transit line.
ADA accessibility is never an afterthought.
President of DG2 Design Kristy DeGuire understands what it means for her family to enter a space that has been properly designed for those who are wheelchair-bound and differently-abled. The team’s designs do not allow for accessibility but rather incorporate accessibility in a way that is inclusive. The goal is not to simply be accommodating of those with special needs. Instead, the goal is to create a space that allows individuals of all abilities and needs outdoor space that is meant for them and their family and their caregivers.
Examples
There is nothing quite as rewarding as seeing a project to completion and witnessing the community’s enjoyment of the space. A few spaces we have completed are listed below. For a more comprehensive view of our work, please take a look at our portfolio.