Embedding quality of life outcomes through design
By Morris+Company for the Social Rent Housing Playbook
Social Rent Housing playbook series
Image Courtesy of Morris+Company
Over the last 12 months, architects Miranda MacLaren and Polina Pencheva from Morris+Company have been listening to homeless families living in emergency accommodation, to better understand what ‘good’ design looks like. Their most recent study, the Family Emergency Accommodation Guidance shines a light on ‘good’ design of new emergency family homes and aims to lift the standards of accommodation for homeless families.
What they have heard and learnt is equally important for the design of ‘move on’ and permanent social rent homes, which increasingly must meet the needs of families impacted by significant housing difficulty. The value of high-quality new homes, must be recognised both for residents and the wider community.
Meeting this housing need and the importance of good design has long been understood. The provision of quality long-term shelter can be traced back to the medieval period - the traditional almshouse being the foundational architectural model for social housing. Although funded historically by sovereigns, the church and wealthy dignitaries/merchants these buildings sort to assist the relief of poverty and sickness through the provision of quality buildings, including housing, and services.
The number of individuals and families who have found themselves in significant difficulty and seek emergency shelter is at crisis level. Substandard housing is having a traumatic impact, with long-term effects on individual’s welfare, health and wellbeing. The economic costs and burden on public welfare services is now substantial and literally costing lives.
The provision of quality, dignified accommodation or settled housing for those navigating homelessness is essential. Research from the WHO and UNICEF reports on the importance of a nurturing environment, and calls for the design of safe, psychologically informed environments (which consider noise, light, comfort, temperature, fabrics, colour, art and aesthetics), found to be beneficial in limiting trauma impacts.
Having heard the stories and insights of those waiting for settled housing (see the RIBA backed We Are Not Bad Kids campaign), the research team at Morris+Company urge those commissioning new social homes to prioritise the design and delivery of safe, settled homes, where residents can carry out their daily lives without interruption, with access to doorstop play while living in a neighbourhood within walking distance of key infrastructure and support networks. The importance of access to nurseries, schools, medical services, and charity or faith organisations that support families who have experienced trauma is essential. A home does not stop at the front door.
“As we build new social housing, under increasing financial pressure and scrutiny, we must be clear why good design is an investment in the mental and physical health of the nation.”
Miranda MacLaren Morris+Company
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As you engage with the Playbook, we encourage you to reach out to the contributing organisations to inform your learning. No single organisation’s product, process or passion can fix the problem. Change will come through creativity, collective wisdom and the will to roll up our sleeves, get involved and work together to do things differently!