Why happiness needs to become a key design aim for architects

Happiness is an incredibly important but often overlooked aspect of our lives. It can result in improved productivity in the workplace and better learning in students; most importantly, it can drastically improve people’s quality of life and physical and mental health.

As we seek to build a more sustainable future for our planet, more and more energy is being directed towards issues such as reducing emissions and waste. These are clearly vital areas to focus on, but it is easy to allow them to overshadow another, equally important consideration: caring for people. We cannot build a truly sustainable future without also meeting the needs of the people who will contribute to and populate it.  

The UN Sustainable Development Goals clearly acknowledge the human element of sustainability. Targets which address inequality and prioritise good health and wellbeing for all are prioritised beside those which are designed to protect the environment. It is evident that the well-being of our planet and its people are closely connected and securing a healthier, happier future for both means addressing their needs equally.

In an age of stress, pressure and often unhappiness, people are increasingly looking for ways to design wellbeing and happiness into their lives. From the recent surge in the popularity of concepts such as mindfulness to the huge number of apps available to remind you to drink water, move around or meditate, it is clear there is a real hunger for greater contentment. But, when it comes to our built environment, designing for happiness is still often overlooked. 

Despite an ever-increasing body of evidence demonstrating that healthy design interventions can reduce sickness, improve productivity and increase feelings of wellbeing, they are frequently excluded from proposals and regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity. When these interventions are included, it is too often in response to regulations rather than something designers and building owners want to create. 

Why design for happiness?

The pursuit of happiness is perhaps the most human of endeavours. It takes us beyond satisfying basic survival needs and drives us to establish meaningful relationships, seek fulfilling careers or pastimes and create things that are not simply functional but beautiful as well. 

Given that we spend around 90% of our time indoors, it seems obvious that we should be designing and building environments that will not only meet our need for safe shelters and prevent ill-health, but that will foster comfort, support wellness and create moments of delight. Design that is well thought out and responds to people’s needs has a positive impact for individuals, businesses and the wider environment, establishing the foundations for a happier world. 

What design elements should we consider?  

Health and happiness are inextricably linked, and it is simple and logical to design for both. Light and air are increasingly recognised as the two most impactful environmental factors to consider. When it comes to ‘wellness initiatives’, research has shown that employees would prioritise fresh, allergen-free air and comfortable lighting over perks such as fitness facilities. Creating workspaces that provide good indoor air quality and optimal lighting not only enhances employees’ workplace happiness and wellbeing, but also improves cognitive function and productivity. Furthermore, making use of natural light and ventilation can reduce absenteeism and decrease spending on energy bills.  

Access to daylight is essential to human health and wellbeing and building layout, form and orientation should therefore be designed to account for how much natural light a space will receive at various times of day. The types and amount of glazing should also be carefully thought out to avoid creating issues such as glare and solar heat gain, and it is important to include appropriate supplementary artificial lighting to ensure a consistent lighting environment. Light can also be utilised to create distinctive aesthetic effects, such as a dramatically lit entryway or restful break areas. 

Alongside designing optimally lit spaces, it is essential to ensure that buildings are well ventilated and provide good air quality for occupants. Replacing polluted indoor air through natural ventilation systems can help to improve the health and wellbeing of occupants without increasing the building’s energy load. In order to make the most of natural air flow, it is important that the size, shape and location of rooms are thoughtfully designed and both cross and stack ventilation are integrated wherever possible.  

By embracing the positive influence of natural light and air in our building designs we can create spaces that enable people to live and work more comfortably, enhancing productivity, health and happiness. 

Designing a better world  

Light and air are just the beginning when it comes to designing for happiness. With everything from colour to access to nature influencing our experiences of the built environment, the considerations are extensive. Whilst there is no linear equation for establishing the direct impact of particular design elements on contentment, and there is no universal performance indicator to meet, there are numerous voluntary building standards, such as WELL, BREEAM and LEED to help guide design decisions in a happier, healthier direction. It is time to respect happiness as a valid and valuable design metric and to rediscover the joy of good design.