insights future watch
Creating green buildings, but also being able to accurately assess their environmental properties, is going to be one of the key issues for the construction industry in the future. Most environmental assessments have concentrated on levels
and forms of carbon consumption, and the effect this has on our surroundings. But, increasingly, the focus is on indoor quality of life and health, with assessments including requirements to reduce the quantity of toxins used in construction, and ensure that a sufficient amount of fresh air is supplied to homes. Buildings constructed today often contain inherent chemi-
cal, physiological and biological risks as a result of materials and processes employed by the construction industry in a drive to minimise costs and build times. The UK currently falls behind European and global standards of best practice concerning the use of many materials. Previously, this has led to what became known as ‘sick
building syndrome’ producing chronically ill occupants. But the Building Biology (‘Bau-biologie’) movement goes further than toxin reduction; its science-based research reveals build- ings made of natural materials, in addition to being environ- mentally friendly, boost health and well-being.
What is Building Biology?
Building Biology is the holistic study of the relationships between humans and their man-made environment; the science of creating healthy, life enhancing buildings. The concept began in Germany in the early 1960s as a reaction to the growing numbers of chron- ically unwell people living in the mass-produced industrialised housing of the post-Second World War years. This prompted the creation of a set of scientific standards for
evaluating indoor environmental quality and 25 principles for building new homes and workplaces. These principles cover factors such as location, noise, emissions, site density, air quality and light. The 1970s energy crisis saw insulating and sealing homes
become a priority. In these tightly-sealed, poorly-vented homes moisture and air quality problems became rampant – and allergies and asthma gained ground. In the 1980s, homes with lighter timber-framed homes came to the fore. However these were problematic in terms of
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Restoration: Hallsannery Hall, Devon
Building Biology criteria as they contained glues and timber treatments, and air tight barriers used were generally permeable to chemicals. Mitigating this to some degree, mechanical ventilation provided controlled outside air to neutralise potential pollutants and moisture created by the building and its occupants. In Northern Europe, Building Biology has become
synonymous with built environments that are healthy and ecologically sound. Born from its unique sociological and building context, the movement developed a standard for health and ecology. Much of the wider green movement, in working with
conventional materials and methods of construction, has sought to achieve healthier and more energy efficient homes via the introduction of increasingly sophisticated technology. This pointed to a future with sensor-driven equipment controlling temperature, humidity, light and ventilation, creating the optimally efficient ‘machine’ for living. Building Biology also advocates eliminating toxins from
the building process. By contrast it views the home as an organism that interacts with its natural environment, and regards the natural environment as the gold standard against which indoor environmental quality should be measured. As part of seeing the building as a fundamental part of how
our bodies function, exterior walls are seen as a sort of third skin, with the second being our clothing. As natural organic cottons and wool clothing create a more comfortable ‘biological interface’ than most synthetic fabrics being breathable and
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