Creating buildings that prioritise comfort is widely recognised as a way to make spaces that are not only functional but also pleasant to be in and around. This is especially important as around half of most people’s daily working hours are spent in buildings, either an office, warehouse or in a retail setting. Multiply those hours over a life- time, and it is easy to see how building for wellbeing and comfort is important.

Building for comfort is easier said than done on a budget, but there are still essential elements that will be relevant to most projects. Enjoyment of our built spaces comes down to several basic building blocks, including: aesthetics, natural light and light- ing, heating, acoustics, building layout, and circulation and indoor air quality. It also goes without saying that all these elements must also be considered and implemented in a manner that is sustain- able for owners, occupiers and the environment.

The first building block to look at is ae