6 minute read
PATRONS
How the pandemic has changed our living spaces
Lockdown has meant we’ve arguably never spent more time in our homes than over the past 15 months, giving us food for thought on how we’d like our living spaces to look in the future. Dr Alan Cuong Nguyen (pictured), associate at Leicester-based Chamber patron Design Studio Architects, offers some insights into incorporating sustainable and healthy living into building designs.
Previously, the need to adopt sustainable design principles was optional as investors and construction contractors weighed up the benefits and costs.
But in the context of the pandemic and the thirst for greater sustainable living, the urgency to consider people’s health and wellbeing within building design requirements has increased.
In the future, building standards might not only be limited to reducing carbon emissions or using environmentally-friendly materials, but also include requirements to prevent and treat both disease and mental illness.
MORE NATURAL LIGHT AND LESS CLUTTER IMPROVES OUR HEALTH
Eco-designer Oliver Heath’s observes that people spend 90% of their lives indoors and two-thirds of this time in our homes.
He discusses the ideas of how we can improve our mood, health and relationships through changing our homes in eight simple ways.
His ideas comprise creating more social spaces while retaining the private areas; setting up a dedicated workspace; letting more natural light into our homes; using healthy materials to reduce dust and toxin levels; getting the right heating; reducing noise and clutter; and ensuring the quality of our sleep.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Looking into how our houses can help to cope with the pandemic, such as lockdown and working from home, Sonia Solicari, the director of London's Museum of the Home, believes our future could be informed by the past.
She points out that working from home was not a recent phenomenon, but a normal practice until the 19th century Industrial Revolution.
Houses in the past were also where people carried out their jobs, such as skilled craft, food production and schooling.
Furthermore, the indoor and outdoor socially-networked living spaces were also intriguing features of both the historical and the future dwellings.
She suggests we could learn from the past to find inspiration for our future homes, through the following six ideas: 1 The hybrid hall was a flexible and agile site of hybrid activities across different generations 2 The co-working coffee house created opportunities for both work and pleasure 3 Communal living was inspired by charitable housing from the 1700s
4 The Victorian bay windows can help boost people's interaction every day during the lockdown 5 The cosy corner, another
Victorian idea that offered the solution to create privacy in a shared home
PANDEMIC-PROOF HOMES
Recognising the crucial role of our homes in mitigating coronavirus, writer, design consultant and TV presenter Michelle Ogundehin outlines 11 ways the pandemic will impact the design of our house in the future.
To create future-proof and pandemic-proof homes, she says we should design them to boost our immunity, reduce indoor pollutants, have a flexible and adaptable layout, keep indoor hygiene by leaving shoes at the porch, keep our home smart but not sterile, and make the living room multifunctional for rest and play.
As the kitchen should be the engine of the home – not the heart – it must be a very hygienic food preparation area.
Other ideas include the revival of forgotten rooms and the design ethos of biophilia – meaning love of nature – to make our homes human-centric and a true space for living.
TRANSLATING THESE IDEAS INTO REALITY
Being an architect, I found all these ideas to be very thought-provoking given the unprecedented challenges we have faced throughout the pandemic, and possibly future ones.
Just like the notion of sustainability, for healthier, futureproof and pandemic-proof dwellings, we need an interdisciplinary approach in design, integrating the knowledge from different experts.
This is also the main approach of Design Studio Architects; we listen, we think, we design – and we will hope to invite further insights from a broader audience.
New partnership to boost equality and diversity
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of a new strategic partnership between East Midlands Chamber and one of the largest providers of affordable housing and care services in the region.
The link-up strengthens an existing relationship between the Chamber and Coalvilleheadquartered emh group, which owns 20,000 homes and employs 1,100 people.
They previously worked together to promote Black History Month in October last year via a joint social media campaign that celebrated the positive impact of Black history, arts and culture on our society.
Chan Kataria OBE, emh group chief executive, said: “Emh group is proud to join a strategic partnership with East Midlands Chamber. This builds on the strength of our existing partnership and joint commitment to promoting diversity and tackling inequality across the region.
“This partnership will enable us to explore the regional economic and social landscape in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion in the post-pandemic phase.”
Established as East Midlands Housing Association in 1946, the company’s initial remit was to build a small number of affordable homes for ex-servicemen after the Second World War.
It has since evolved to add care and support services alongside its role as a social housing landlord, working in more than 40 local authority areas across the region.
Now known as emh group and with a turnover of £125m, the business also includes a specialist rural housing arm, apprenticeship academy and offers low-cost home ownership options.
East Midlands Chamber director of resources Lucy Robinson, who is leading her organisation’s own equality, diversity and inclusion drive, said: “Given that the Chamber’s vision is to enhance East Midlands businesses and communities, it’s very important we work with like-minded organisations, and we have been impressed with the work emh group has done regarding diversity, inclusion and equality, alongside other social issues such as tackling homelessness.
“This strategic partnership will play a key role in our bid to demonstrate how business can be a force for good in a post-pandemic world.”
Hardy Signs joins as Chamber patron
A company that designs and makes signage for brands including Nestle and Müller UK is seeking to establish new partnerships in the East Midlands after becoming the latest Chamber patron.
Multi-award-winning company Hardy Signs, based in Burton upon Trent, has also joined as a partner of Generation Next, the Chamber’s growing network for young professionals and future leaders in the region.
It will also sponsor the Community Award at the inaugural Generation Next Awards, which will be held at a virtual ceremony on 16 July.
Managing director Nik Hardy said: “We have been a member of East Midlands Chamber for many years and have formed a great partnership.
“We are delighted for the opportunity to become a patron, where we will not only support the Chamber but Generation Next. In line with our mission, vision and values, our key focus is to form new partnerships with other partners and members, and ultimately enable success for them through our bespoke, high-quality professional and digital signs.”
Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Hardy Signs is a fantastic example of the innovative manufacturing base we have in the East Midlands. We are delighted to cement our relationship further by bringing Nik and his team on board as a patron, and look forward to working closely together.”
THE CHAMBER IS HONOURED BY THE SUPPORT OF ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND PATRONS
