Healing Homes A search for the design of housing to foster wellbeing

The research is an investigation into how to design homes for wellbeing for all irrespective of age and health status in response to a resilient future. The investigation begins from a historical review of housing projects of how pioneering architects have designed for wellbeing in the past (from 1900’s till date). It situates itself in this context by defining a 'new’ research hypothesis of designing homes for wellbeing in the modern era. To introduce the hypothesis, it starts from theoretical research of both external and internal disciplines on the kind of architectures documented to foster wellbeing. The identified architecture’s design principles and theories are then studied, mapped out and reformulated to identify the key concept of design. To identify current and practical key themes of designing for wellbeing, it uses an evidence-based approach where it identifies key themes that are common to the medical sciences, psychology, sociology, and architecture for a thorough reflection on the three aspects of wellbeing: physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Thus, the sciences give a justification and explanation to the architectural components and quality required for wellbeing. The research continues by delving deeper into the key themes through case studies and literature where it will reflect on wellbeing through the architectural qualities identified. It intends to then make recommendations based on the reflections of the key concept and key themes to suggest how to design and combine qualities of architectural elements in housing to promote wellbeing for all.