Revision with unchanged content. The built environment does not exist in a vacuum. It is constructed in a social sense and therefore regarded as a cultural source and area of communication that can be decoded. Architecture and design affects the environment experience and influences human interactions and social activities. The aim of this study was to explore the relations between the built environment and human behaviour with focus on social institutional settings. The role of the built environment was assessed and its effect on environment experience and social processes. This was achieved by investigating different school buildings to illustrate a range of designs and its effects in relation to their social value and pedagogical benefit for children. It was found that the physical and social environments and the characteristics of people are closely interlinked. Environmental competence and awareness of aspects of environmental psychology within caring, socialising and therapeutic settings can therefore be seen as a component of good practice. This study is intended for everyone interested in, studying or working in the field of social work and social care and offers a foundation for further reading.