HOW CAN HOUSING CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING HEALTHY PLACES?DR TIM TOWNSHENDSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION Quick overview of issues Look at a couple of examples of improving health through

retrofitting in housing More ambitious example of trying to help dementia suffers through

a carefully designed new housing environment Conclusions

SLUMS TO BYE-LAW HOUSING

Water

Warmth

Safety

Space Sanitation

Noise

Privacy

Walkability Air Quality

Flood Risk

Traffic

Access to Employment

ServicesPlay space

Greenness Perceived Status

Affordability

Social Capital

Contemporary links between housing and health

Accessibility

LightOutdoor space

CASE STUDY 1: HOUSING AND HEALTH NEW ZEALND

Effects of retrofitting insulation to 1350 low income homes (4407 participants) – where at least one person had chronic respiratory problems

Retrofitting was associated with small increase in winter bedroom temp (+0.5C) & decrease in humidity (-2.3%)

Reduction in self-reports of ‘fair’ and ‘poor’ health wheezing children taking a day off school adults taking a day off work

Home Injury Prevention Intervention (HIPI) study reduced home fall injury rates by 26% though low-cost intervention

From special issue of Urban Design and Planning (2015) – vol. 168 (4)

HOUSING OLDER PEOPLE AND HEALTH/WELL-BEING

In UK ageing housing stock (as well as population!) – one of the oldest in Europe

1 million people over age of 75 live in poor housing conditions but spend 80% of their time at home (Dept. of Health , 2013)

We have a huge shortage of suitable housing for older people (DEMOS, 2013)

DESIGN ESSENTIALS FOR OLDER PERSONS’ HOUSING(SOURCED FROM EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES)

Flexible & Adaptable ‘homes for life’ Comfortable ‘Care-ready’ – future proofed for current (and future)

technologies e.g. telecare can be installed Adequate space allowing free movement & space for

guests (at least 2 bedrooms) Kitchen can accommodate a dishwasher and washing

machine Easy reach ample storage Accessible – e.g. downstairs toilet Safe and secure Good insulation and thermal efficiency – cost effective

heating

Means of shading/keeping cool Good natural and artificial light Good ventilation Private outdoor space Views and greenery Sensory needs (e.g. for those with impairment) Proactive consultation

Adapted from Rachel Dutton (Accord Group - housing and social care organisation) (2015)

CASE STUDY: DEMENTIA FRIENDLY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

By age 80, 1 in 5 have some form of dementia

Currently 850,000 living with dementia in UK – over 2million by 2051 (more than population of Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester) (Alzheimer’s Soc. 2014)

Some design issues well-known – e.g. access to greenspace/multisensory environments hugely beneficial/avoidance of dead-ends/certain flooring etc.

Even best designed housing tends to ‘shut people off’

Source: Pollock and Marshall, 2012, p.219

HOGEWEYK, NETHERLANDS: DEMENTIA FRIENDLY VILLAGE

KEY POINTS

Stimulation is positive for dementia sufferers Outdoor activity/interaction with greenspaces etc. positive for dementia sufferers Really key difference with Hogeweyk and similar Dutch developments is the emphasis on

greater support of physical activity and encounter with others Encounter to improve the quality of life of those with dementia, slow down symptoms Encounter to break down the stigma of dementia i.e. this doesn’t just benefit those suffering with dementia, but everyone

N.B. Hogeweyk is currently undergoing post occupancy evidence gathering

CONCLUSIONS Housing is the basic building block of our towns and cities The links between housing and health have been known for a very long time and through

our increasingly sophisticated understanding of health and well-being are continually developing

There are many ways in which we can build healthier housing and thereby healthier town and cities – we know much of this already

Still room for the basics to improve existing stock – e.g. improving insulation etc. can be v cost effective

However - potentially we may even be able to mitigate (at least to an extend) some of our most challenging health problems, such as dementia, through more creative thinking and better design – here commitment to resourcing is clearly much more significant – but the benefits are potentially huge

THANKYOU Tim.Townshend@ncl.ac.uk