Health and Happiness
We realise that it may seem odd to design in the pursuit of happiness . Yet unless those of us planning, designing and engineering low impact developments acknowledge the full role that social aspirations play in deciding how we live, then truly sustainable and satisfying lifestyles will never be realised. Our aim is to show that leading a fulfilling life is not incompatible with living within natural, environmental limits. We believe that those lifestyle choices which improve quality of life are also those which underpin low impact living.
Materials
The use of low VOC finishes (like mineral paint and bees wax); non reliance on fitted carpets; omission of heating systems that dry out the internal air in winter; along with the continual ventilation of all spaces together insure a largely dust free, healthy indoor climate which lowers incidence of asthma and other ‘sick building’ syndromes.
Natural light
ZED buildings rely on solar gain, which means large glazed areas in turn give bright airy rooms alleviating seasonal affective disorder or SAD.
Usable outdoor spaces
Indoor and outdoor spaces are both crucial for wellbeing and the active use of the site as a place to meet and interact is essential. Indoor and outdoor spaces are connected with light and planting providing buffer zones like sunspaces – spaces to grow!
