1st Edition

Healthy Homes Designing with light and air for sustainability and wellbeing

By Nick Baker, Koen Steemers Copyright 2019
    224 Pages
    by RIBA Publishing

    It is widely acknowledged that there is an urgent need to transform our housing stock to a better energy performance level. However, improving energy performance should not result in a negative impact on the health, wellbeing and the comfort of building occupants. There are many energy-neutral features that can be incorporated at small or zero cost which have a positive effect on wellbeing. This book aims to outline and discuss these aspects of building design. The issue of health and wellbeing has already entered into design advice for the workplace, where productivity and absenteeism are often used as indicators. This book concentrates on residential buildings, notably mass housing and affordable strategies, for which new, more socially and health-oriented indicators are being developed. Provides practical design guidance based on scientific evidence Explores both physical and psychological wellbeing Focuses on the home and immediate domestic environment Structured in an accessible way for architects and designers.

    Part 1:  1. Introduction  2. Physical and psychological health and wellbeing (an overview of the current knowledge) Part 2:  3. The house and its surroundings  4. The building envelope  5. The building interior and services  Part 3:  6. Synthesis and Design Studies

    Biography

    Nick Baker is a course tutor at the Architectural Association and visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge. His interests include energy modelling, daylight design, natural ventilation and thermal comfort, and occupant behaviour influences on energy use.  

    Koen Steemers is Professor of Sustainable Design at the University of Cambridge and Director of the architectural practice CH+W Design. An architect and environmental design specialist, Koen was recently listed as one of the "top 50 most influential people in UK sustainability" by Building Design.