“We shape our buildings, thereafter, they shape us.”
– Sir Winston Churchill
The way you ‘feel’ is significantly affected by your environment.
20%
of Australians suffer from some sort of high-level mental distress...
48%
of Australians report at least two sleep-related problems...
50%
of Australian’s have experienced mold or dampness in their homes...
65%
of Australians are overweight or obese...
83%
of an Australian’s time is spent indoors...
100%
of Australians would like to live in healthier homes that support their wellbeing...
(ok, we guessed this one...)
How to design your home for wellbeing
Combining well-established home design principles, the latest heatlh & wellbeing research, neuroscientific understandings & environmental psychology studies, we have developed what we believe to be the ultimate design formula for designing your home for wellbeing.
After hundreds of hours of research and over 20 years of building design experience, we are happy to present this introduction to Home Design for Wellbeing, which presents a wellbeing home design formula, along with practical steps you can take TODAY to feel better in your home. Enjoy..
After hundreds of hours of research and over 20 years of building design experience, we are happy to present this introduction to Home Design for Wellbeing, which presents a wellbeing home design formula, along with practical steps you can take TODAY to feel better in your home. Enjoy..
THE FORMULA
Environment + Behavior (ie. choices)= Wellbeing Outcome
What this means
This might sound like an oversimplification, or even a bit ‘woo-woo’, but think about it...
The environment that a human is present within will make them FEEL certain ways, for example: calm (rainforest), sad (funeral), excited (theme park), safe (bunker).
The resulting FEELING of these environments will encourage activities that affect wellbeing outcomes such as working out (gym), consuming (fast food restaurant), reading (library), buying (shops), working (office), sleeping (bedroom).
The environment that a human is present within will make them FEEL certain ways, for example: calm (rainforest), sad (funeral), excited (theme park), safe (bunker).
The resulting FEELING of these environments will encourage activities that affect wellbeing outcomes such as working out (gym), consuming (fast food restaurant), reading (library), buying (shops), working (office), sleeping (bedroom).
Environment + Behavior = Your Wellbeing
When we shape our most important environment - our home - we shape outcomes for our health, wellbeing and personal growth.
But, what does ideal wellbeing look like
“BetterHealth’ (an AusGov website) states: ”Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It’s a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional and social health factors.” So, as our surrounding environment evokes strong and predictable psychological, emotional & physical responses & states of wellbeing, when we design our environment for control the outcome, we provide the highest possible chance for ideal wellbeing.
To understand how to create desirable psychological & emotional responses (such as contentment), we need a benchmark or framework to examine & understand these states of mind better, so we can design around the desired feeling of the space we want to evoke. The framework we will be using, is a well-known base level theory of human wellbeing. This theory is Abraham Maslow’s 1943 theory for human contentment & happiness, commonly called - ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’.
To understand how to create desirable psychological & emotional responses (such as contentment), we need a benchmark or framework to examine & understand these states of mind better, so we can design around the desired feeling of the space we want to evoke. The framework we will be using, is a well-known base level theory of human wellbeing. This theory is Abraham Maslow’s 1943 theory for human contentment & happiness, commonly called - ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’.
This framework is presented in a pyramid form and is built on the premise that it is difficult to move on to the next level of the pyramid without mostly fulfilling the level below it. Although Maslow didn’t create this psychological model with home design in mind specifically, meeting these human needs profoundly influences our wellbeing outcomes.
These human needs are affected by many factors. However, the 5 Measures of Wellbeing we will be exploring in the coming pages, will focus on how our environment can influence these needs and ultimately, our wellbeing outcome...
These human needs are affected by many factors. However, the 5 Measures of Wellbeing we will be exploring in the coming pages, will focus on how our environment can influence these needs and ultimately, our wellbeing outcome...
The 5 Measures of Wellbeing that ‘environment’ impacts on..
Health & Energy | Contentment | Community | Productivity | Personal Growth
The Environmental Variables to Control
You might wonder though - how much of my environment is actually within my control?
To manipulate our environment for the desired wellbeing outcome, it is important to identify what variables are actually within our control.
As we explore the 5 Measures of Wellbeing in depth, we must identify the best ‘settings’ for each variable, and make direct recommendations as HOW to get there.
To manipulate our environment for the desired wellbeing outcome, it is important to identify what variables are actually within our control.
As we explore the 5 Measures of Wellbeing in depth, we must identify the best ‘settings’ for each variable, and make direct recommendations as HOW to get there.
- Light - Both natural and artificial light affect how we feel.
- Climate - Temperature & humidity are best set per room.
- Air Quality - Our respiratory system thrives on clean air.
- Noise - Noise control differs per room purpose.
- Comfort - Comfort for each room differs by room purpose.
- Cleanliness - Each room has differing protocols for cleanliness.
- Movement - Movement through & between spaces must be designed intentionally for optimal flow & spatial management.
- Function - How various home spaces function per useage affects all 5 Measures of Wellbeing. Form must follow function.
- Nature - Connection to nature (biophillic design) is crucial to our wellbeing. Why & how is explained for each measure.
- Security - Security affects our wellbeing in surprising ways. How?
Cost
You might think that designing for wellbeing is just too expensive, and out of your reach to add design elements that optimise wellbeing.
Or, that if you rent or lease a home, you therefore have no control over the ‘environment’ you live in. This is an understandable thought. However, there may be more FREE or cheaper options than you may at first think.
To explore the various options that are open to you, we’ll be making recommendations for each wellbeing category based on cost to make it easy to begin your design for wellbeing journey starting at $0!
Or, that if you rent or lease a home, you therefore have no control over the ‘environment’ you live in. This is an understandable thought. However, there may be more FREE or cheaper options than you may at first think.
To explore the various options that are open to you, we’ll be making recommendations for each wellbeing category based on cost to make it easy to begin your design for wellbeing journey starting at $0!
- Aesthetic - Low cost, minor, or free improvements you can make on a budget, without modifying the building. (eg. Rearranging what you already own, buying pillows, draught stoppers, mirrors, plants, lights etc.)
- Furnishing - Home improvements without modifying the building itself to a large extent (eg. furniture, rugs, window coverings, paint etc.)
- Building Design - Home building design from the ground up (including renovations) (eg. siting, roof, walls & floors, windows, doors etc)
Conclusion:
In our following blog posts, we will explore the details of each of the 5 Measures of Wellbeing, the Environmental Variables to Control, and how this can be achieved at varying levels of financial investment.
Make sure you are following our blog so you don’t miss the solutions to this important public and private health information. It will certainly change your home design plans, and it could even change your life.
- Sam.
Make sure you are following our blog so you don’t miss the solutions to this important public and private health information. It will certainly change your home design plans, and it could even change your life.
- Sam.