How Healthy is your Home?
- Carlos Monsalve
- Oct 25, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 12
When we think about architecture, our mind often drifts to the aesthetic appeal of buildings, the innovative designs, iconic skylines, or your favorite home improvement show. However, architecture’s influence extends far beyond visual pleasure and shelter. It plays a crucial role in shaping our health and well-being, often in ways we might not immediately recognize.
Historical architecture offers numerous examples of how courtyards and natural elements have been used to promote better ventilation and air quality. For instance, traditional Islamic architecture often features courtyards with gardens and water features. These courtyards are also an iconic feature in spanish colonial and greco-roman homes. These courtyards not only provide a serene environment but also help in cooling and ventilating the surrounding rooms.
Similarly, ancient Roman houses, known as domus (same root word for "domestic"), typically included an atrium, courtyard, or peristyle garden. These open spaces allowed for natural light and air to circulate, improving the indoor environment. The use of plants and water features in these courtyards also contributed to a more pleasant and healthy living space.
If you are not one of my clients, you're probably thinking, "Well, they didn't live in Houston during the humid summer, or have to endure Montana's winters, plus technology has advanced so much that we don't have to rely on those natural elements for survival anymore." You would be mostly right, for obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean that there aren't things we couldn't learn from our predecessors, after all, these strategies were adapted for varying climates throughout the moorish and roman empires. Paired with advancing technologies, wouldn't the goal still be the same? To achieve a comfortable home that positively influences your overall health, or at the very least, that it does not make you sick?
Biophilic Architecture: Connecting with Nature
Biophilic architecture is a design philosophy that seeks to create buildings and spaces that connect people with nature. It incorporates natural elements, materials, and light to enhance the well-being and productivity of occupants. This approach can be seen in various forms, such as green walls, indoor gardens, and the use of natural materials like wood and stone. By fostering a connection with nature, biophilic design can significantly improve both physical and mental health.
In her incredible book, Biophilia: You+Nature+Home, Sally Coulthard describes "the biophilic manifesto," three key goals of a biophilic space:
Ensure that a space puts you in direct, physical contact with nature.
Embrace many different things in your living space that remind you of natural things.
Live in a way that connects to natural rhythms and outside spaces
Architecture significantly impacts our health, largely through indoor air quality, and poorly designed
buildings can lead to respiratory issues like asthma and allergies due to poor air quality. Indoor air quality can be positively or negatively affected by building materials, mechanical systems, access to sunlight, room temperatures, and even the type and color of paint in your home (think lead-based paint). Using natural materials and proper ventilation systems can improve air quality. Incorporating natural ventilation can also enhance air circulation and temperature control.
Additionally, building layouts can influence physical activity. Accessible staircases, balconies, and inviting walking paths encourage movement, promoting physical health. Conversely, poorly navigable environments can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of obesity cardiovascular diseases, and depression.
Thoughtful Design and Mental Health
Biophilic design also has a profound impact on our mental health. Integrating natural elements into the built environment, has been shown to reduce stress, enhance mood, and improve cognitive function. Spaces that incorporate plants, natural light, and views of nature can create a calming atmosphere, fostering mental well-being. This can also be replicated by including soft hues of nature colors, such as blues and greens or depicting art work with natural scenery.
Soundscape design is equally important, as many studies have shown a direct correlation between certain natural sounds (rustling leaves, flowing water, chirping of birds, etc.) and increased levels of dopamine, reducing anxiety and stress. Think of how you feel by the beach, creek, or mountain.
So where is it appropriate to incorporate biophilic elements? Everywhere you spend time; Your Home, your work, and other community spaces. Well-designed public areas, too, encourage community engagement and socialization, which are vital for mental health. Conversely, poorly designed spaces can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Ever notice how neighborhoods and urban centers with street trees, wide sidewalks, and parks generally have a greater concentration of activity? Whether you bring a plant to work, commit to that outdoor patio, or design a new lake house, any effort you put in, will be equally rewarded with a high standard of living.
Don't know where to begin? we encourage you to speak to your architect about incorporating biophilic design principles. Don't have an architect yet? sign up for a free call with one of our qualified architects at Mon.Archi.
What are some changes you can make in your home today to create a healthier environment? What are some must-have natural elements for your future project?
To learn more about biophilic architecture, you can explore the following resources:
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