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
  

About the Author

Nick Baker is a course tutor at the Architectural Association. While he originally studied physics he has nevertheless spent most of his professional life working in architecture and building. His interests include energy modelling, daylight design, natural ventilation and thermal comfort, as well as the broader field of sustainable design. He has written and contributed to several books on these topics, including a book on Sustainable Refurbishment partly based on material from a recent EU funded demonstration project, where he served on the expert panel. More recently he has become interested in the way occupants interact with buildings, and in particular, the way their behaviour influences energy use. Now retired, for much of his career Nick was a lecturer at Cambridge University Department of Architecture, and is a visiting lecturer and external examiner at several other universities.

Koen Steemers is Professor of Sustainable Design in the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Professorial Fellow at Jesus College, and is a Director of the architectural practice CH+W Design. Previously he was Head of Department (2008-14) and Director of the Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, the research arm of the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge (2003-08). 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. His current work deals with the architectural and urban implications of environmental issues ranging from energy use to human well-being.

Reviews

This book makes a timely contribution to the built environment and health research and the community more broadly. Having access to the Healthy Homes book would be extremely beneficial to many trying to improve the design, experience and performance of their homes through an evidence-based approach. Students and industry professionals are likely to benefit from the technically driven content and applied nature of design examples. Members of the community may find the overview of aspects relevant to health and wellbeing within the residential context. Healthy Homes aims to identify the key indoor environmental elements that have an effect on human health and wellbeing in residential buildings, with a view of informing design decisions. The book is extremely successful in achieving this goal, making a significant contribution to the dissemination of this type of content within a wider audience. -- Review by Christhina Candido, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia, in Buildings & Cities magazine, June 2021.

A much needed appraisal of the current state of design for wellbeing, this book covers the broad range of issues affecting living environments and impacts on psychological and physical health. The writing is accessible, adopting a sustainability audit approach which will be useful for students and designers in urban design and housing. The book is an excellent reference and appropriate for an uncertain future where urbanisation and consideration of climate change requires continual design refinements to achieve healthy homes. - Review by Gary Young in Planning in London magazine, Issue 112, January - March 2020.

Book Information
ISBN 9781859467138
Author Nick Baker
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint RIBA Publishing
Publisher RIBA Publishing