Mishio / Healing Homes

Healing Homes A Search for a Future Home that Fosters Wholistic Wellbeing

Author: Rose-Ann Mishio, Politecnico di Milano

Supervisor: Alessandro Rocca, Professor Dr., (Polimi), AUID, DAStU, Politecnico di Milano; Jacopo Leveratto, Politecnico di Milano; Marco Bovati, Associate Professor, DAStU, Politecnico di Milano

Research stage: Initial doctoral stage

Category: Paper

Abstract

The housing of today has been confronted with many challenges such as not being ageing friendly, associated with poor wellbeing and harmful to the environment. With Europe’s population ageing faster than the average global population, and the rise of its shrinking cities predominantly occupied by the elderly it has become expedient that the home design is rethought to cater for everyone; irrespective of age or health status for a resilient future. The position taken for the research is that the problems of housing interconnect and therefore the house of tomorrow must strive to address them with the help of design. The aim of the research is to combine the parameters of wellbeing in the design of the future home such that it fosters holistic well-being, ageing in place and healthy living. In order to do this, the research project is structured in two phases. The starting point is taken from healing and therapeutic architecture because they are purposely designed to foster holistic wellbeing and protect the environment. Thus, design principles, theories and recent case studies from the 20th to 21st century of such architecture are analysed and reflected upon to draw out tools that can be replicated in the design of the future home. The second hypothesis is drawn from a reflection on a wellbeing parametric index as a guide in the design process. These gathered information from the first phase is to draw out knowledge and concepts to be applied in the second phase which envisions a test of the hypotheses in three areas; adaptation to an existing housing design, a new typology or a hybrid building.

Keywords: Homes, Wellbeing, Architecture Design