How Residing Locations Copenhagen explores future wellness
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Wellness in structure is a hotly debated subject. From biophilic design to inclusive structure and the position of know-how in our houses, it encompasses totally different parts that translate into various facets and practices, selling well-being within the twenty first century. Learning mild and air flow, and their impact on inside consolation is a key piece in that puzzle.
On this panorama, Residing Locations Copenhagen, a analysis mission out of a devoted, purpose-built mini neighbourhood within the Danish capital, is an experiment that makes an attempt to handle the topic by measuring design’s affect on our each day consolation in an try and outline what makes the proper, modern dwelling setting.
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
Residing Locations Copenhagen: who, what, why and the way
In 2023, Danish window specialists Velux determined to place its cash the place its mouth is, kick-starting Residing Locations Copenhagen – a analysis mission and dwell take a look at web site intent on proving precisely how design may help us dwell higher: alone, collectively, and inside the pure and concrete context. Taking on a beneficiant, lengthy and slim plot in Copenhagen’s Jernbanebyen neighbourhood, the corporate labored with property consultancy Artelia and EFFEKT Architects to create a household of constructions – two mannequin houses and 4 semi-open pavilions (the latter performing as storage and auxiliary areas, and exhibition areas, supporting the mission’s operate).
Every of the 2 houses is barely totally different. Each made in wooden structure, they have been designed utilizing sustainable structure ideas – one in strong timber that includes pure air flow, and the opposite in CLT (cross-laminated timber) and hybrid pure/mechanical air flow. Each are kitted out in state-of-the-art know-how which permits the consumer to regulate and adapt when home windows and sunshades open and for a way lengthy, each by way of regulating daylight and air flow inside the house.
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
On the similar time, all constructions share a definite, cosy and minimalist Nordic aesthetic – areas clad in light-coloured timber, flowing interiors, tall ceilings, pitched roofs and clutter-free detailing. A backyard outdoors – all of the constructions are organized throughout a timber-lined deck that defines the ‘neighbourhood’ – ensures home windows open to greenery which features a vegetable backyard. Company are inspired to choose its fruits to make use of in cooking.
The intention? To spotlight the constructive affect of ‘a wholesome indoor local weather’ and assist show how structure may be sustainable on totally different ranges in an environment friendly, scalable and inexpensive means (every of the houses, the mission’s representatives say, may be constructed within the equal quantity of the standard Danish household dwelling). So in case you can afford a home, why not make it one which helps well being and wellbeing too, they counsel.
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
The tactic? Inviting visitors (certainly one of which was this author) to remain at one of many houses for a number of days. The experiment included a number of visits going down over the course of some months. Every customer skilled the setting and particular settings within the air flow and daylight window methods, recording ranges of consolation, providing suggestions and implementing changes alongside the best way. Surveys have been stuffed in, questions have been answered and the outcomes have been fed by way of to the programme’s group to be collated and translated into measurements.
In the meantime, the methodology used attracts on the mannequin proposed within the scientific paper Nicely-being at dwelling: a mediation evaluation of residential satisfaction, consolation, and residential attachment by Bernd A. Wegener and Peter Schmidt, revealed within the Journal of Housing and the Constructed Surroundings in 2021.
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
Residing Place Copenhagen: the outcomes
Now, a little bit over a 12 months on from its launch, the scheme has revealed its learnings. To that finish, the Residing Locations Copenhagen group confirms that whereas consolation is a broad time period and may imply various things to totally different individuals, the house setting and its daylight, thermal situations, indoor air high quality, acoustics, and reference to nature, are recognized as key components in consumer wellbeing.
‘It’s clear that there’s a robust correlation between a high-quality indoor local weather and human well-being, in response to new information,’ the mission group writes. ‘In July and August 2024, Velux Group invited almost 100 architects, entrepreneurs, designers and journalists from 12 international locations to dwell at Residing Locations Copenhagen as a part of an experiment that builds on years of analysis led by Velux Group in scientifically monitoring totally different mannequin houses to raised perceive how constructing design impacts residents’ consolation and satisfaction whereas assessing indoor environmental high quality and its results on human well-being.’
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
‘Designed to optimise daylight and pure air flow, 83% of all visitors favoured spending time in rooms with extra pure mild whereas 90% additionally discovered it simple to regulate the shadings to make sure an optimum indoor setting. As a part of creating well-being at dwelling, practical components like design, structure, temperature, lighting, and indoor local weather can invoke speedy emotions of bodily consolation in a constructing. Throughout their keep, 85% of the visitors perceived the homes to suit their practical wants.’
It was moreover decided that every of the Residing Locations Copenhagen single-family houses emits solely 3.85 kg CO2 eq/m2/12 months (a reality with third-party verification from AAU BUILD – Division of the Constructed Surroundings).
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
‘We spend 90% of our time indoors, so the best way we construct and dwell instantly impacts our bodily and psychological well being. Residing Locations focuses not solely on how we create a greater dwelling setting for our planet but additionally on making a path in the direction of a future-oriented society that enhances dwelling situations for individuals as properly,’ the report highlights.
‘Residing Locations showcases how we will construct houses that don’t simply make us much less sick however really contribute to enhancing our well being. Combining mechanical air flow and efficient filtration of out of doors air with pure air flow by way of home windows and doorways secures a wholesome indoor local weather by way of the entire 12 months, even when the surface temperature drops.’ The exams coated areas reminiscent of humidity and contemporary air and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations that have an effect on mould and pollution.
(Picture credit score: Adam Mork)
A conclusion summarised in 5 key themes
- Residing Locations can encourage and showcase how one can construct sustainably, in designs that may be financially aggressive and scalable, use commonplace supplies and observe modern life-style developments and aesthetics.
- Wholesome buildings which might be good for individuals and the planet may be achieved by making use of a holistic method focusing extra on consolation, vitality and environmental parameters; a no brainer, maybe, that structure ought to be addressed from idea to constructing, operation and afterlife.
- Moreover, the best way we design our houses can considerably affect residents’ well-being and their way of life (‘1 out of three Europeans is uncovered to no less than one indoor local weather hazard reminiscent of lack of daylight, chilly, damp or noise,’ the group experiences. ‘Over 70% of Residing Locations visitors reporting improved temper, elevated rest, and a way of connection to nature whereas experiencing minimal adverse results’)
- The design of Residing Locations Copenhagen, which optimizes daylight and pure air flow, has been well-received by visitors, they add
- Lastly, Residing Locations Copenhagen has achieved an indoor thermal setting inside the comfy vary in response to the European Commonplace (being awarded a ‘first-class indoor local weather’
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