A seminar to discuss the role of housing in the wider healthcare system

Homes play an important role in alleviating pressure on the health service, but are often framed in terms of illness-prevention rather than wellbeing-promotion. This ignores the more holistic concept of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO 1946). In that context, what then does it mean to have a ‘healthy’ home and what consequence does this have on the planning, design and development of housing?

This seminar will bring together five expert speakers to explore how housing intersects with wider health provision and the practicalities of delivering ‘healthy’ homes. It will be of particular interest to academics and practitioners involved in the design, construction and refurbishment of the homes of the future.

Speakers: 

• Dr. Ian J. Ewart (Chair)*
  Lecturer in Digital Technologies in the Built Environment
• Simon Nicol
  Group Director, BRE Housing and Energy
• Gwyn Roberts
  Homes and Communities Lead, BRE
• Domini Gunn
  Director of Health and Wellbeing, Chartered Institute of Housing
• Guy Burnett
  Group Development Director, Thames Valley Housing Association
• Michael Chang
  Project and Policy Manager, Town and Country Planning Association

This event is free of charge, Parking available in Car Park 1A

*ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship 2013-2107. Grant number ES/K009435/1. Project title ‘Designing Healthy Homes’