IAQ Indoor Air Quality

MATERIALS

Recorded by Elizabeth Donovan, images by Essi Nisonen and Veera Saastamoinen

KEY READINGS 

• Healthy Homes: Designing with light and air for sustainability and wellbeing. Nick Baker, Koen Steemers. RIBA Publishing

• Designing for the climate emergency, a Guide for Architecture Students. Pelsmakers, S., Donovan, E., Hoggard, A., Kozminska, U. RIBA Publishing

• The Environmental Design Pocketbook. Sofie Pelsmakers. RIBA

• Indoor Air Quality Guide - Best Practices for Design, Construction, and Commissioning. Peter Brokenshire, Susan Andersen. Amer Society of Heating

INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES

• Tezuka Architects – Fuji Kindergarten, Tokyo, Japan

• SelgasCano – Second Home Holland Park, London, UK, or Second Home LA, Los Angeles, USA

• RMJM, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

• dRMM Architects – Maggie’s Centre, Oldham, United Kingdom

IAQ INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important factor in human health, comfort, and productivity. It includes factors such as temperature, humidity, and the presence of pollutants. Poor IAQ can lead to a variety of health problems, such as respiratory diseases, allergies, and asthma. It can also impact building performance and energy efficiency. IAQ is affected by activities and materials inside buildings, as well as outdoor air pollution. Sources of indoor air pollutants include combustion sources, building materials, cleaning products, pesticides, and people. Sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the environmental impact of buildings, including minimizing the release of pollutants and creating buildings that are resilient to climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the importance of good ventilation and air filtration in indoor spaces.