Buildings and places
The Well, Toronto, Canada
The Good CityOur architects, urban designers, landscape specialists, engineers, climate and sustainable design specialists and related design experts consider every aspect of the built environment with an urbanistic mindset.
Cities are ecosystems and whether designing a space, building, neighbourhood, district or entire city region, the value of every piece of the city jigsaw is maximised through its relationship and understanding how it all fits together.
Our Guiding Principles for Good Design encapsulate our approach. Known as the 5 P’s, we design for people, through a human scale approach to identity and interaction, for place, embracing the natural, manmade and social context, with purpose in mind, ensuring usefulness, legibility and wellbeing, protecting the planet through adoption of low carbon approaches and biodiversity, and a process which fosters participation, multidisciplinary thinking and the application of appropriate technology.
How we can help
Architecture
Our belief is that architecture should be regenerative, socially progressive long lasting and efficient. Our technical expertise, is underpinned by the latest information technology, giving clients the assurance that we are always able to see projects through, from the earliest concept sketches and analytical studies to completed buildings.
Engineering
Our building services, civil and structural engineers contribute holistically to all projects, crossing traditional profession boundaries to stimulate creative thinking and adding huge value for our clients. Our engineering teams work closely with architects, both in-house and outside BDP, to challenge thinking and push the boundaries of conventional design.
Interior design
Society’s lifestyles and needs are constantly evolving, and interior design plays a pivotal role in adapting to these changes. Our projects range from small specialist fit-outs to large complex corporate headquarters, educational establishments and healthcare facilities – all thoughtfully designed to enhance the quality of life, promote relaxation, and boost productivity.
Inclusive design
For us, inclusive design and its process is fundamental to creating spaces for everyone. Our approach considers variation in physical mobility, hearing, vision, strength, stature and cognition as well as factors beyond disability to embrace aspects of gender expression, race, place of origin, socioeconomic status and other considerations.
Lighting
Good lighting design goes beyond mere functionality; it has the power to transform spaces, enhance aesthetics, make us feel safe and impact our overall experience. Sustainability is fundamental to our design ethos from carbon reduction to the wider issues of the circular economy and health and wellbeing.
Our work
The Well
The Well has transformed into a sustainable, vehicle-free neighbourhood, mixing offices and residences with retail, galleries, bars and restaurants.
Augustine Hill
A highly significant location in Galway city centre and an opportunity to expand the city core through a masterplan-led urban mixed use development.
60–80 Atlantic Avenue
60 and 80 Atlantic are interconnected office buildings situated in a rapidly transforming historic area in Toronto Liberty Village.
National Children’s Hospital, Dublin
Ireland’s largest healthcare project will bring together the three existing children’s hospitals to create a single, world-class facility.
Key contacts

Chris Harding
Chair, BDP

Nozomi Hishida
TOD, Urban Development, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.
Related themes
Quality of life
The Good City fosters safe, diverse, supportive communities – where people thrive in healthy, connected places.
Flexible and responsive
The Good City must adapt and evolve – built for today, ready for tomorrow, and resilient to whatever the future brings.
Prosperous and successful
A prosperous Good City creates opportunity, supports livelihoods, and drives national economic success.





