How Buildings Affect our Health and Wellness

What do the fields of wellness and architecture have in common? Wellness is becoming a daily active pursuit for many. With all the buzz around the topic, one thing we don’t hear about much is how the buildings and spaces we inhabit daily, impact our well being over time.

Visualize yourself sitting in a dark apartment, with little natural light emitting through a single window. Outside of window you see only the solid brick wall of the building next door. The synthetic carpet and linoleum floors smell of toxic off gasses and the one light in the apartment is bright fluorescent buzzing in its plastic cover. You can hear the tenant next door through the un-insulated paper-thin walls. The air in the room is humid and you can see signs of mold developing on the ceiling.

Now imagine sitting in a pavilion on a hill breathing the fresh air. The roof overhang is providing just the right amount of shade to protect you from the direct sunlight. The pavilion is oriented so the natural window patterns of the site create a consistent cross breeze through the space. The polished concrete floors have been resting on the cold earth all night and are cool to the touch on your feet. The windows and doors let just the right amount of natural light and allow you to get a 180-degree view of the natural surroundings. The walls of the pavilion are cladded in natural stone sourced directly from the site.

Rost Architects - Hill Pavilion

One environment provides the inhabitant with a sense of well-being, comfort, and a connection with nature. The other scenario would most likely induce a sense of discomfort, stress, and irritation. Over time, exposure to these two environments can have compounding effects on the individual’s heath and well-being.  

The spaces that we inhabit daily are often overlooked when assessing health and wellness. We are by no means heath experts however it has become apparent to us that our bodies can sense chemicals in building materials, unnatural light, recycled stale air, and material toxicity. If exposure to these are not limited, they can produce direct responses such as headaches, nausea, eye and throat irritation, respiratory problems and skin reactions.

The psychological effects of inhabiting or living in a poorly designed space can be just as damaging. Increased stresses and depression can be caused by the lack of sufficient daylight and minimal connection with nature. Lack of cleanliness and organization can also be a source of stress.

There is a growing field of study in the architectural community which has developed the term “sick building syndrome” to describe the negative effects that buildings and spaces can have on human health. Unfortunately, it has not gained a strong foothold. From what we have seen, many people, especially in younger generations, are living in building conditions which will negatively impact their health and well-being. When you pair this with a poor diet, minimal exercises, and financial pressures, it is a recipe for disaster. As professionals in the building industry, need to become more conscious of the impact buildings can have on people’s health and well being.

We feel strongly that the spaces our clients inhabit can have an enormous effect on their health and well-being. Just as a doctor, nutritionist or heath expert recommends diet, exercise, stretching and meditation treat to their patients, Architects and Interior Designers can use space, order, light, materials, air quality, and landscape to create healthy spaces for living. Through good design we can positively impact people’s lives and increase their levels of satisfaction, happiness and well-being.