Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa

Lorenz von Seidlein; Hannah Wood; Otis Sloan  Brittain; Lucy S.  Tusting; Alexa  Bednarz; Salum  Mshamu; Catherine  Kahabuka; Jacqueline  Deen; David Bell; Steve W. Lindsay; Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002909

Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa

Lorenz von Seidlein, Hannah Wood, Otis Sloan Brittain, Lucy S. Tusting, Alexa Bednarz, Salum Mshamu, Catherine Kahabuka, Jacqueline Deen, David Bell, Steve W. Lindsay, Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen

Institute of Architecture and Technology

Publications: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100. Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials).
• This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being.
• Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate diseasecarrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.
• We identified the following research priority areas: optimal building shape, roofing, vector barriers, cladding, water supply, sanitation, kitchen design, electricity supply, rural to periurban housing, and user acceptability.
• Improved housing incorporating novel design elements tailored to local environments in the hot-humid regions of Africa will require investments that could come through innovative financing mechanisms for residential property. Better housing will promote well-being and health and play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Original language	Danish
Journal	PLoS Medicine
ISSN	1549-1676
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002909
Publication status	Published - 10 Oct 2019

Artistic research

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10.1371/journal.pmed.1002909

Cite this

@article{e7d92572a733478c8c7bc81792564af0,

title = "Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa",

abstract = "The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100. Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials).• This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being.• Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate diseasecarrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.• We identified the following research priority areas: optimal building shape, roofing, vector barriers, cladding, water supply, sanitation, kitchen design, electricity supply, rural to periurban housing, and user acceptability.• Improved housing incorporating novel design elements tailored to local environments in the hot-humid regions of Africa will require investments that could come through innovative financing mechanisms for residential property. Better housing will promote well-being and health and play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).",

author = "{von Seidlein}, Lorenz and Hannah Wood and Brittain, {Otis Sloan} and Tusting, {Lucy S.} and Alexa Bednarz and Salum Mshamu and Catherine Kahabuka and Jacqueline Deen and David Bell and Lindsay, {Steve W.} and Knudsen, {Jakob Brandtberg}",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pmed.1002909",

language = "Dansk",

journal = "PLoS Medicine",

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T1 - Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa

AU - von Seidlein, Lorenz

AU - Wood, Hannah

AU - Brittain, Otis Sloan

AU - Tusting, Lucy S.

AU - Bednarz, Alexa

AU - Mshamu, Salum

AU - Kahabuka, Catherine

AU - Deen, Jacqueline

AU - Bell, David

AU - Lindsay, Steve W.

AU - Knudsen, Jakob Brandtberg

PY - 2019/10/10

Y1 - 2019/10/10

N2 - The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100. Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials).• This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being.• Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate diseasecarrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.• We identified the following research priority areas: optimal building shape, roofing, vector barriers, cladding, water supply, sanitation, kitchen design, electricity supply, rural to periurban housing, and user acceptability.• Improved housing incorporating novel design elements tailored to local environments in the hot-humid regions of Africa will require investments that could come through innovative financing mechanisms for residential property. Better housing will promote well-being and health and play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

AB - The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100. Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials).• This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being.• Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate diseasecarrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.• We identified the following research priority areas: optimal building shape, roofing, vector barriers, cladding, water supply, sanitation, kitchen design, electricity supply, rural to periurban housing, and user acceptability.• Improved housing incorporating novel design elements tailored to local environments in the hot-humid regions of Africa will require investments that could come through innovative financing mechanisms for residential property. Better housing will promote well-being and health and play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002909

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