Four Principles for Good Quality Home Design

The concept of good quality housing and home design excellence is important to establish. So much housing stock is either of poor quality or in disrepair that the concept of good quality design seems out of reach. In addition, real estate is often valued on some slightly superficial aspects that may not actually improve the quality of the design.

There are four principles that are relevant to good quality housing: 1) healthy spaces, 2) lifestyle functionality, 3) durable materials, and 4) aesthetics.  These are attainable through renovations and remodels of existing construction or can be achieved with new construction. These four principles assume that the primary structure (foundation, load-bearing walls, columns, beams, roof framing, etc.) is in-tact.  If you are working on a renovation or remodel and uncertain of the structural integrity of the house, be sure to consult directly with an architect, engineer, or builder who can help you assess the condition.

To begin with, let’s consider the principle of healthy spaces.  Healthy spaces are ones that facilitate good environmental qualities such as natural daylight, airflow, and thermal comfort.  The environmental qualities inside our homes are one of the greatest influences on our daily quality of life through the experiences of our senses.  Imagine for a moment that you are sitting in your living room and are suddenly disturbed by noisy rattles and vibrations of your mechanical HVAC system blowing cool air into your space.  You can’t focus or relax, your nerves are on edge, and the air quality is challenged due to looming dust particles.  Compare this moment to an alternative situation where you sit in your living room with windows partially open to allow in fresh-air and a cooling breeze while you listen to the sounds of birds outdoors.  You are relaxed, able to focus, and breathing fully and clearly.  This is just one example of how the environmental conditions and the design of our space can influence our wellbeing and health.  Without healthy spaces, we will begin to suffer from subtle, long-term negative impacts to our physiology and wellness. 

Second, the way that spaces are utilized in your home speaks to your lifestyle and daily activities.  The concept of lifestyle functionality means that spaces are well-suited for the purpose you are using them for.  If you have spaces that don’t quite meet the needs of your lifestyle functions, then you don’t have good design and might consider remodeling.  The awkward thing about lifestyle functionality is that many homes may have been designed based on market demand for a certain number of bedrooms and bathrooms, while your household use might not require the same metrics.  Many times, homeowners end up repurposing spaces for alternative uses (think yoga studio or craft room for the un-used bedroom).  And often times, rooms need to accommodate multiple functions or dual-purpose use (think kitchen / home office).  Most of the time, homeowners can make do with the allocated spaces for different functions.  However, it is important to consider the environmental conditions of each space to be in alignment with the assigned use.  For example, consider different zones of the house for public vs. private uses as these will be better aligned with the primary functional needs such as daylight and views vs. noise control.  Ultimately, good quality house design will incorporate spaces that match the appropriate activities with the appropriate qualities. 

Solid and durable construction materials are important for good quality housing.  Materials shape the spaces of the home with different effects – such as wood flooring with throw-rugs for warmth and acoustic dampening, or white plaster walls for light reflection and a clean aesthetic.  It is often challenging to spend a little more money up-front with better quality materials during home renovations, but both the longevity and maintenance savings will more than pay for the difference during the life of your home. Durable materials need to be aligned with the functions in different spaces, but some applications are more important than others.  Exterior building materials should be carefully selected based on the climate region your home is located in.  Good quality siding, cladding, and roofing will improve longevity, reduce maintenance, and raise curb appeal value.  On the interior, flooring materials take the most beating with foot traffic, pets, furnishings, and other impacts.  Good quality flooring will be more lasting and provide better environmental control in different spaces.  

It may seem surprising that aesthetics would be on the list for good quality housing, especially when considering that everyone may have different preferences and tastes.  However, although houses can be designed in many different styles (Craftsman, Modern, Victorian, Southwestern, etc.), the aesthetics is always defined by some common elements.  The combination spatial and material conditions with proportions and environmental qualities determine the underlying aesthetics of any given house.  When proportions or materials are mis-matched and spatial conditions do not facilitate proper environmental flows, the aesthetics suffer.   Most importantly, the aesthetics of any good quality house always connects the structure with its context, whether urban or natural.  In urban settings, connection to context can be accomplished with datum lines (think roof heights and eaves) or with thoughtfully oriented fenestration (think clerestory window for diffused daylight).  In natural settings, the house can be situated to take advantage of views, earth integration, landscaping, and other elements.  Carrying elements of the outdoors in (think colors, textures, plants) and the indoors out (think outdoor living room and eating space) helps to facilitate the connection with natural contexts. 

Whether you are on the market for a new home or looking to renovate or remodel your existing home, consider these four principles when assessing the design.  Of course, you can always make further modifications or changes if you realize down the road that aspects of your house are unsuitable or of poor quality.  But you will save time, money, and headaches if you pay attention to these principles from the beginning of your home buying or renovation project.  You can always find more information and healthy home resources at Aletheia Ida Design and Architecture, LLC (AIDA, LLC) at www.aletheiaida.com.