There Is No More Time. Strategies for Protecting Health in Confined Spaces

Abstract

This paper analyses the changes in urban and domestic life following new needs and fears, particularly those that emerged during the recent global pandemic. Here, we want to emphasise how urban and living spaces are central to our resilience and well-being, focusing on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of buildings. Despite its importance, indoor air quality is often overlooked, even though it is linked to known health effects, such as “sick building syndrome”, which affects occupants of closed environments equipped with mechanical ventilation and air conditioning. The research highlights that ensuring good indoor air quality is now entirely possible in new buildings, thanks to the possibility of choosing healthy materials, designing effective ventilation systems and controlling humidity and pollutants. The situation is different in existing buildings, where interventions are more complex and expensive. In such contexts, it is essential to assess the specific conditions to identify simple technical solutions where possible, or to plan more structural interventions in cases of hazardous pollutants.

Through a comparative analysis of international standards, studies and projects, this contribution provides useful tools for aware design, based on knowledge of materials and the physicality of the built space. The aim is to promote design that considers the healthiness of indoor environments as an integral part of the quality of contemporary living.