The current study released by Athens – based studio LandmArch. Architecture, attempts to answer why biophilic design may be one of the most direct solutions in re-approaching housing design, under stressed conditions, such as enforced enclosure and/or areas characterized by dense population.

Description:

Today, the definition of “house” consists of basic areas, such as living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, lacking the basic notion of light and ventilation. This becomes more intense if you look at the densest living areas in the world.

3d view of living room, © Stella Stamou

“As a result, all the other extra notions of what a house could provide become secondary”.

How do we then redefine a modern living space into not just being habitable, but also restoring these essential notions that make it a home? How could the notion of housing positively affect residence during pandemics like COVID-19 or other extreme situations?

3d view of dining room, © Stella Stamou

Could a house offer all necessary qualities for reducing stress and improve health conditions during forced enclosure?  The possibility that new kind of pandemics, like the COVID-19, will emerge faster than we have ever imagined is to be taken into serious consideration about the living qualities and the notion of residence. Can a house provide working and living activities simultaneously? Can a house share activity for different age groups at the same time providing both co-habitation and privacy? Self – sufficiency? 

Housing is a key determinant of health, and the impact of the healthcare crisis during Covid-19 has been hitting people without dignified accommodation the most, especially at the city centers.

3d view of parent’s master bedroom, © Stella Stamou

“The need of a new approach on housing model which can include energy autonomy, hygiene standards and relief qualities is more necessary than ever”.

3d view of parent’s workroom, © Stella Stamou

New challenges are growing bigger every day. Considering the growing population, the land is constantly seen as a depleting resource with limited boundaries and thus has increased real estate prices. All materials, techniques and spaces are about to be questioned again under a new perspective about what “edge” is and how flexible an edge can be!

Basic concept 

Maximum amount of people in minimum possible spaces

The basic concept here is to design a “Living Space” for a family of 5 (3 generations to be considered: Two parents, two kids, one grandparent), using the maximum possible indoor space in a limited area (48 m²), fit in a very narrow urban empty space (12x4m). Two of the most important social problems arising during the last decades, child poverty and social exclusion are closely associated with lack of quality and affordable housing.

3d view of kid’s bedroom, © Stella Stamou

Living in poor quality housing can contribute to serious health risks, such as meningitis, asthma, and depression. This project aims in providing the new generation all necessary living qualities that could fight such health risks to the maximum.

Biophilic design

This living space is characterized by a light structure, cheap and easily assembled, offering a plethora of aesthetical stimuli to enrich psychology & well-being. It focuses on the use of sanitary qualities with materials providing sun and air flow, views and in-door flora presence (biophilic design) in combination with energy autonomy.

3d view of kid’s study area, © Stella Stamou

Translucent plastic laminate wall panels can be an excellent candidate for applications such as cladding and façades of residences and they can not only help customers reduce heating and cooling costs, but also cut energy usage and CO₂ emissions to benefit the environment.‎

These systems, such as the LEXAN™ THERMOCLICK™ which are mainly used in profile-free facade applications are made up of 40 mm, UV-protected, multiwall sheet panels with a profiled tongue and groove connection.‎

3d view of kid’s bathroom, © Stella Stamou

With this interlocking system they achieve elimination of the need for vertical profiles, saving money and enhancing aesthetics at the same time, while they perform well in a range of climates and weather conditions.‎

3d view of grandparent’s bedroom, © Stella Stamou

By attaching this translucent system to the existing edges of the surrounding building we reveal the aesthetic identity of previous building characteristics and we use the new living spaces as a scenery that embrace the past and the future.

Athens, Greece

The problem of population density and the lack of adequate housing areas in the city center 

When we refer to the term “population density” we refer to the tool that provides an average measure for the number of persons living per square kilometers (km²) of land area. According to the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects, central Athens is the second most densely-populated area of Europe after Paris (17,040 people per km² vs 21,044 people per square kilometer in 2018).

3d view of hammock, © Stella Stamou

Nearly half of the Greek population lives in Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world, with a recorded history dating from around 1400 BC, and both the capital and the largest city of the country.

Towards practical solutions to implement the right to housing – Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) and URBACT are joining forces 

Their approach is mostly focused on experimenting on new housing models, governance structures and designing strategies for those placed out of the housing market, including measures arising from discussions regarding the role of municipalities.

Biophilic design 

“Biophilic design” is an approach to interior architectural design that exudes respect for the aesthetic and environmental value of the natural environment, and aims at the mental and physical well-being of the people who live in it.

3d view of playroom, © Stella Stamou

It is characterized as a sustainable design strategy that facilitates the reconnection of people with their natural environment and describes the bonds with which human existence seeks contact with other living things, plants or animals.

3d view of second floor, © Stella Stamou

“The term «biophilic design» did not become widely known until the early 2000’s and the current conditions of forced inclusion implemented by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

3d view of rooftop, © Stella Stamou

The concept of biophilia means that people have a biological need to connect with nature, which both affects their physical, mental and social status, their personal well-being, emotional, cognitive, aesthetic and intellectual development, productivity and social relationships. 

Ground floor plan, © LandmArch. Architecture

The approach towards biophilic design is achieved mainly through three important tools, the presence of natural plants, the involvement of people with them and the direct or indirect presence of natural light and ventilation.

Characteristics of indoor plants and natural light 

Some of the most important characteristics of fresh, indoor plants are that they refresh the positive energy of the space and help reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere inside the building.

1st floor plan, © LandmArch. Architecture

“In addition, indoor plants increase the relative humidity by increasing the water droplets in the air, creating a feeling of comfort and well-being”.

2nd floor plan, © LandmArch. Architecture

Finally, in combination with the micro-flora they reduce the levels of harmful gases, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, benzene and trichloroethylene, while the use of indoor plants reduces the concentration of dust by 20%.

Terrace plan, © LandmArch. Architecture

On the other hand, the presence of natural light affects our eyes and their functions and supports the circadian rhythms of the body, regulating thus the sleep-wake cycle as well as the hormones.

Conclusion 

Finally, biophilic design is related to another definition, the one of «wellness«. Wellness refers to the general sense of a very good psychosomatic state, which results in the creation of a pleasant mental mood. According to the scientific field of environmental psychology, it has been proven that mood and the level of mental and physiological stress of human beings are significantly affected by their immediate environment.

Roof plan, © LandmArch. Architecture

Facts & Credits:

Project title: Biophilic design in tiny spaces at times of forced enclosure, Project type: Study, Architects: LandmArch. Architecture, Illustration: Stella Stamou (Interior Designer and Architect at Linear Project design studio, Athens), Special thanks: Han Liu (Graduate spatial designer from Central Academy of Fine Arts | Beijing – Urban designer in Sustainable Urban Planning and Design at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm)

Υποβάλλετε ένα άρθρο

Το όνομά σας *

Το email σας *

Το θέμα του άρθρου σας *