Public health is an important topic in the UK. We’re facing big challenges, including increases in the number of people suffering major illnesses and inequalities. Incredibly, the homes we live in could be a factor. We want to have a closer look at that here. Then, if you want to work with a leading architect in London to design homes that will promote good health, you can rely on us.

Housing quality

Several different studies give a worrying insight into the quality of housing in the UK. For example, BRE says around 10% of homes are poor quality. That is almost 3 million properties! Living in accommodation with serious issues could lead to various health problems.

Data from the English Housing Survey from 23/24 finds that 5% of homes have problems with damp and mould. Additionally, 13% of properties are hard to keep warm. Overheating is a massive topic at the moment too, especially with recent heatwaves. The fear is as many as 50% of homes currently struggle when temperatures rise.

What to do?

There are a number of critical things to consider if you want to create quality homes that promote good health. This includes lighting, ventilation, acoustics, accessibility, air quality, thermal comfort, and nature. We’d love to help, giving you the insights of a top architect in London, recommendations, and much more.

A few details are an absolute must with homes. It goes without saying that there should not be any hazards that would cause health issues. Plus, the services should be up to standard, especially electrics. They should also be as easy as possible to maintain.

More specifically, there are three elements to focus on because of the impact on health and wellbeing; air quality, thermal comfort, and moisture levels.

Air

We all know how important air quality is. That’s why there are laws in place for businesses, road vehicles, and other pollution sources. It’s just as critical in homes. If you’re breathing bad air every day at home, your health can decline. Work with a top architect in London to ensure your property will have clean, fresh air.

There are some key things to think about here. Effective ventilation is the most important, ensuring homes won’t have stale, stagnant air. It plays a key role in getting rid of moisture and contaminants. Plus, it helps prevent overheating too. On top of that, you need to limit sources of organic volatile compounds (VOCs) and ensure the ventilation removes them efficiently.

Thermal comfort

Homes can have a big impact on health if they get excessively cold or overheat. You need to consider how you can ensure properties will be a comfortable temperature at different points of the year. There are vital details to consider, such as insulation, shading, choice of glazing, and ventilation. It can be a tough task, considering what you need to do to tackle cold and excess heat. Speak to us and work with a top architect in London to tackle it.

Moisture

Damp and mould have a massive impact on health. In fact, there is UK legislation now (Awaab’s law) for social landlords. It was introduced after the tragic death of two year old Awaab Ishak due to severe respiratory disease caused by exposure to toxic mould at home. This puts into focus how important it is to address moisture in properties.

It’s essential to limit ingress, address condensation, and tackle sources of moisture such as cooking and bathing to prevent damp and mould. Again a big thing to look at is ventilation. Plus, it is vital to minimise cold surfaces and prevent thermal bridging in key locations, especially around windows.

Design homes to promote good health with a leading architect in London

Coffey Architects can help if you want to create a wonderful home. We look at the different things that ensure it promotes good health, such as the lighting, air quality, noise, and level of comfort. So, get in touch today and tell us your ideas.