A global building network research for advancing healthy and affordable housing

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that buildings that are well designed, constructed and operated can generate health, well-being and prosperity benefits. Inadequate ventilation, poor indoor air quality, chemical contaminants from indoor and outdoor environments and poor lighting can generate negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, respiratory and ocular diseases. The current COVID-19 global health crisis has resulted in an increased interest in strategies that can be used to generate these outcomes. This notwithstanding fundamental research questions related to the unique built environment-related attributes that increase our vulnerability at both the local, regional, and global level are being overlooked. We need to evaluate the inherent socioeconomic , environmental, and anthropogenic factors. The emerging Global Building Network seeks to address this need through efforts that transcend disciplines, sectors, and geographies.

Adequate Housing and COVID-19: Assessing the Potential for Value Creation through the Project

“…COVID-19 spread and the subsequent control measures developed in cities and urban areas have impacted on housing adequacy in many respects, highlighting the need to question existing indicators in order to implement evidence-based and sustainable housing policies [25]. As a matter of fact, the pandemic exacerbated an already existent lack of adequate and affordable housing, as a global and longstanding crisis [23,[26][27][28][29][30]. Indeed, the fundamental requirements of adequate housing-sufficient living space, basic service provisions, thermal comfort, accessibility, etc.-help to reduce exposure to the virus of people already suffering from health inequities.…”

The urban syndemic of COVID-19: insights, reflections and implications

“…Many papers raise issues of vulnerability and fragility of people and of systems (Berkowitz et al 2020, Black et al 2020) and consequences arising from inequalities (Cave et al 2020, Diez Roux et al 2020, Cole et al 2020, Lawanson et al 2020. Resilience is another theme that several authors examine (Rippon et al 2020, Jenkins 2020, Obonyo and Mutunga 2020.…”