The Life of a Space #7: Should outdoor spaces be destinations or a checklist of amenities?

I’ve often wondered why outdoor environments are treated as amenities rather than destinations.

Inside a building, we carefully consider:
focus,
collaboration,
social interaction,
privacy,
wellness.

Outside, we often place a few tables and chairs and consider the job complete.

Yet some of the most memorable conversations happen outdoors.

Some of the best thinking happens outdoors.

Some of the strongest social connections happen outdoors.

Particularly in places like Hawaiʻi, where climate allows us to spend more of our lives outside, it feels like a missed opportunity.

What if outdoor spaces were planned with the same intentionality as interior environments? Not just somewhere to sit. A place to gather. A place to focus. A place to recharge. A place to connect.

The most successful outdoor environments I’ve experienced don’t feel secondary. They feel essential.

As organizations think about employee experience, learning environments, healthcare campuses, and public spaces, I wonder if we’re only beginning to understand the role outdoor environments can play.

What would change if we designed outdoor spaces as destinations rather than amenities?