14th January 2019
Did you know that 80% of consumers want more natural light in their home? With 48% saying that they would pay more to have a home with more natural light and 57% saying they would be more likely to buy or rent a home if it had more natural light, it’s clear that this will be an important design consideration in future homes.
That’s according to the findings of our latest survey, which draws on the views of 1,000 25-40-year olds that either own or rent homes. Additionally, the survey further demonstrated the desire for natural light, as consumers reported that one of the biggest drivers for investing in new windows was increasing the amount of natural light in the home (38%).
Architects at leading studios Hawkins Brown, Simpson Haugh and BDP, as well as property developer The High Street Group, discussed the research, finding that regulation vs. design vs. cost was the main equation on the subject of natural light. The architects also highlighted that everyone would like to have more light in their homes, but ultimately it will come down to planning permission and price.
James Roberts, Architect from Simpson Haugh reflected on this, saying: “everyone would like to have more natural light in their homes, it’s about balancing how we can achieve this. For example, variation in local legislations can impact amount of glass that is feasible within the fabric. Regardless, this needs to be balanced with an environmentally responsible design solution that considers a variety of aspects, such as the building systems and the overall design aims.”
Francesca Roberts, Architect at Hawkins Brown, commented: “It’s about careful placement of the windows and thinking about how light can be flooded into properties in all the right places. It’s not just about light either, you need to think about other factors, such as if the property is near a busy railway or a road and consider how this should impact the placement of windows. It’s about finding that sweet spot, through proper testing and analysis. The placement of windows should not be determined by rolling out a standard house type across a site, with the window placement being left to chance. Instead, what’s right for each plot should be considered.”
The survey is part of our ‘The Future Home Report’, and draws on the views of 1,000 25-40-year olds that either own or rent homes, about design and build considerations for future homes. The Future Home Report can be downloaded in full here - https://www.eurocell.co.uk/whitepaper