Healthy Homes: How Design Choices Affect Your Well-Being

Kenya’s housing sector is under growing pressure to prioritise health and well-being, as experts warn that poorly designed homes are contributing to preventable illness and long-term public health risks.

The homes people live in are increasingly understood as environments that directly affect health, comfort and social well-being. In Kenya, rapid urban growth and intensifying climate conditions are exposing weaknesses in housing design that extend beyond cost and appearance. Specialists argue that wellness must now be treated as a core requirement of residential construction.

Dr Linda Nkatha, an architect and climate resilience specialist, describes this approach as “building for wellness”. She defines it as a deliberate design and construction process that recognises housing as part of preventive health infrastructure. According to her, factors such as natural light, air circulation, temperature control, acoustics and spatial layout play a decisive role in how people function in their daily lives.

Homes differ from offices or schools in that they host all aspects of daily life, including sleep, eating, social interaction and rest. Children, older people and those with chronic illnesses spend much of their time indoors, increasing their exposure to indoor environmental conditions. Poor air quality, limited ventilation, dampness and household pollutants are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, as well as premature death. 

Although the World Health Organisation has set limits for pollutants such as carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter, many urban households exceed these thresholds. Access to daylight remains a persistent problem in high-density neighbourhoods such as Pipeline and Zimmerman. Many ground-floor units receive minimal natural light, leaving occupants in consistently dark spaces. 

The health implications are significant. A Nairobi clinic has reported that 71 percent of infants diagnosed with rickets had been exposed to less than three hours of sunlight per week, pointing to a direct link between housing conditions and childhood illness.

Thermal comfort is also becoming harder to achieve. Indoor overheating is already common in Nairobi and is expected to intensify as temperatures rise. Extended exposure to indoor temperatures above 30°C increases the risk of dehydration, disrupted sleep and cardiovascular strain. 

Noise pollution further undermines health. While WHO guidelines recommend night-time noise levels below 30 decibels, traffic and construction noise in many urban areas regularly exceeds 55 decibels, affecting learning, sleep quality and mental health.

Design solutions alone cannot address all housing-related health risks. Overcrowding, inadequate waste management and weak enforcement of building standards remain widespread. Diseases such as tuberculosis and diarrhoeal infections persist in congested and poorly serviced estates, where pest infestations are also common. 

In several counties, unregulated groundwater use has resulted in high fluoride levels, exposing children to long-term dental and skeletal damage. Housing conditions also shape emotional well-being and family life. Homes influence stress levels, routines and relationships on a daily basis. 

Designs that allow sufficient daylight, fresh air and a clear balance between shared and private spaces help reduce chronic stress and support family interaction. This approach reflects the principle of salutogenesis, which focuses on creating environments that promote dignity, stability and social connection, rather than only preventing illness.

Wellness-oriented housing is often perceived as costly, but many effective measures are inexpensive. Simple design choices, including window placement, shading to limit heat, damp prevention and layouts that maximise daylight, can substantially improve health outcomes. Dr Nkatha notes that healthy homes depend more on informed design decisions than on expensive materials or technologies.

Professional guidance is expected to play an increasing role. The Architectural Association of Kenya has introduced a Healthy Homes Checklist to provide practical standards for ventilation, daylight access and noise control. These tools, combined with architectural and interior design innovation, are likely to influence future residential developments.