Living and working in healthy spaces: a key factor for our health
SALUD
Choosing the right place to live and work can be crucial for our health. We spend most of our daily hours at home or in the office, and continuous exposure to pollutants has a cumulative effect.
The choice of materials used in the construction and finishing of buildings, acoustic, thermal, and lighting comfort, humidity levels, proper ventilation, the type and placement of electrical wiring, and water treatment… these are some of the key factors that determine a building’s health.
Some of the most relevant harmful factors include:
Excesive presence of wireless devices
Dirty ventilation or air conditioning ducts
Limited natural light
Air freshness with artificial fragances
Lack of air circulation
Innapropiate lighting
Exces static electricity caused by carpets
High intensity of magnetic fields from electrical equipment
Poor acoustics or innadequate sound insulation
Insufficient heating or cooling of rooms
All of these factors can slowly affect our health, sometimes without us even realizing it.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), 30% of modern buildings could pose health risks to the people who live or work in them, as they often overlook key considerations—such as the type or level of ventilation. This is known as Sick Building Syndrome, which is characterized by a wide range of symptoms including allergic rhinitis, eye irritation, dryness, headaches, mental fatigue and lack of concentration, nausea or dizziness, and other chronic respiratory conditions in particular. When affected individuals leave these buildings for a period of time, the symptoms usually subside and most of them regain their original health.
In some cases, corrective measures can be used to reduce or minimize these problems, but most of the time the solution is so costly that renovations are ruled out. That’s why it’s essential for projects to consider the health aspects of buildings from the very beginning. For us, creating healthy, sustainable, and energy-efficient spaces is the main goal, and all of our projects are driven by a strong commitment to people’s health and well-being.