THE IMPLICATION OF ARCHITECTURE ON PUBLIC HEALTH

Ogbuanu Achara-ugo Onyebuchi

Department of Architecture

Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

E-mail: acharabuchi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The impact of architecture to sustained health was assessed employing secondary source of data. It was revealed that obesity, heart conditions, High Blood pressure has quickly become the largest contributors to most health related issues. The issue facing society is not only how to combat and address the concerns of preventable chronic diseases, but to also find ways to improve health for an individual and the collective through architecture, because architecture plays a critical role in shaping the qualities of our environment and have the power to restore and promote solidarity, mental and physical health and be a source of happiness. This study examined the link between architecture, health and well- being and highlights the profound effects that the built environment has on public health with its focus on sustaining improved health. By moving beyond building designs with optimizing single parameters such as temperature and humidity, to more holistic approaches that take their cues in health-supporting human behaviors.  As a minimum, designers should ensure that direct physical health parameters (e.g. air quality) achieve a level that is considered ‘good enough’ to avoid ill health. The fact that there are numerous strategies related to different settings, it is important to design adaptable environments.

Keywords: Architecture, Sustained Health, Physical Health, Well-Being, Health.  Public Health