Building Wellness: Reimagining Space and Shaping Urban Lifestlye

Abstract

What does it mean to live well? Philosophers and theorists have described the “good life” for thousands of years as the pursuit of happiness and success - living well. Today, Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors and in traffic. Whether an individual is indoors or outdoors, their bodies are continuously reacting to the queues of the surrounding environments. Indoor air quality, exposure to natural daylight, and proximity to views are just some of the triggers that influence a building occupant’s mood and wellness. With time being limited during the week, it’s often hard to maintain positive states of mental, physical, and occupational wellness on a daily basis. Through the exploration of space and connection to building occupant well-being, the goal is to redefine the daily lifestyles of Washington D.C. residents and employees through mixed-use development.