Rethinking Architecture: How Air Quality Shapes Design

Introduction

Air is one of the most important factors in building design; however, we tend to overlook it and instead focus on the building's exterior physical properties and how we will treat the air. Most people think of air in terms of place (location), function (what a space is used for), and desired outcome (what an architect wants to achieve with the architecture). Air is an afterthought; it is handled through building performance testing.

Every aspect of the architectural process; thus, if we do not include air in our design process, we will leave people without proper air quality. Air quality results from architectural design and should be incorporated into all designs. When looking at architecture from an air quality perspective, we should see air quality as a design material that is dynamic, multifaceted, non-physical, and ultimately shaped through the human touch.

Design Decisions That Shape Air Quality

The perception that air quality is only an engineering concern is inaccurate. Architectural decisions are critical to establishing air quality. How a building is oriented may affect choices in arranging the interior floor plan, influence how airflow becomes trapped in areas, how it travels through hallway lengths between adjacent uses (open lobby area versus separating different floor levels with elevator shafts), and more. A narrow or deep corridor, or a sealed façade with poor connections, can easily create a "moat" effect, trapping excess gases (pollutants), especially on warmer days.

The choice of material will play a huge role in determining a building's overall air quality. Finishes, adhesives, furnishings, and insulation emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for months following construction. VOCs are invisible, but they significantly affect indoor air quality. Passive ventilation strategies are discussed in climate-responsive design; the manner in which airflow paths, pressure differentials, and transitional areas are considered is important to overall air quality.

All of them together determine whether a building provides a clean, breathable indoor environment or requires extensive mechanical systems. The air quality “performance” of a facility is not added on; it is embedded in the facility's design.

Indoor–Outdoor Air Interactions in Buildings

Buildings are conceptualized as closed boxes; they have a physical separation between "inside" and "outside." A building is a transformation of air, energy, and pollutants. Outside air must be separated from inside air. Instead, air pollution enters a building through the ventilation system, windows, cracks, and pressure differentials. A building is located in a densely populated area (e.g., near roadways or industrial areas), and the indoor environment reflects air pollution patterns similar to those of the surrounding outdoor environment. This may be delayed or concentrated.

Buildings can affect the community through their exhaust systems, emergency generators, and cooking emissions. A building cannot keep its internal environment separate from the external environment; it must continuously exchange air with the external environment.

Hence, these factors are critical in locations where people spend most of their time (e.g., schools, offices, homes, hospitals). Exposure to air pollution is not only determined by pollutant concentration but also by the duration of exposure. In other words, an individual will be more adversely affected by long-term exposure to moderate levels of pollution than by short-term exposure to high levels of outdoor pollution.

Understanding buildings as components of a larger air system enables architects and engineers to make informed decisions about the placement, size, and timing of a building's HVAC systems. Buildings' relationships to other buildings create a framework for accountability for maintaining indoor air quality.

Health, Comfort, and Social Responsibility

The air quality in a given building affects how we feel, function, and perform. There are numerous health problems caused by the air we breathe; however, many people attribute these problems to indoor living rather than the shortcomings in the design of the space. Air quality also plays a significant role in how well we perform mentally, our productivity, and how comfortable we are in an environment. Better indoor air quality results in improved concentration, better decision-making, and greater well-being. Just a luxury; rather, it serves as the basic building block for every individual's potential.

Exposure to poor air quality is not equal. Certain types of buildings (e.g., low-income housing, informal settlements & overcrowded workplaces) bear a disproportionately high burden of poor air quality because they typically have poor ventilation, are densely populated, and are in close proximity to polluted areas.

If an architecture ignores air quality, then it further entrenches the existing inequalities among people. On the flip side, designing to produce clean air acknowledges that people's health is determined by where they live, not simply by how they seek treatment when they are ill. In architectural design, air quality decisions affect user comfort and may raise ethical issues.

The Role of Planning, Standards, and Governance

The majority of buildings built today have met air quality requirements due to code ventilation rates and equipment specifications. However, meeting the requirements alone is not adequate. There continues to be a significant lag in adapting regulations to reflect. Those regulations are still applied as a blanket rule, without consideration of unique contextual factors, including real-life discrepancies in pollution sources, as well as the time frame and pattern of use of a building in relation to the type of pollution emitted within it. It is possible for a building to meet the code requirements on paper but still exhibit poor performance or Poor Air Quality.

There is a critical need for integrated thinking about how to achieve air quality at the site selection, zoning, and urban form decision-making levels. Decisions made can affect the type and level of pollution. Monitoring how the building is functioning remains a critical element of this integrated thinking. Monitoring air quality is more than just a means of compliance after the building has been occupied; it also provides accountability, information feedback to designers/operators, and to the people living/working within the buildings, so they can observe how the building is functioning over time.

Globally, there is a disconnect between design and lived experience, and populations continue to urbanise rapidly. The pace of development of air-quality-aware planning is increasing, with integrated thinking.

Conclusion:

Air-aware architecture is not an added burden but a return to the discipline’s core purpose: creating healthy environments where people can thrive. It shifts design from reactive fixes like filters and retrofits to an integrated process where air quality, light, control systems, and spatiality evolve together. Air-aware architects recognise buildings as part of interconnected environmental systems, where every wall shapes how air moves and how people experience space. Designing for air means acknowledging the importance of what we cannot see and engaging in an open dialogue between design and environment. In doing so, architecture becomes a pathway to healthier, more breathable spaces for all.

A Collective Responsibility

In this modern age, air quality is everyone's responsibility. Each action we take can contribute to a healthier planet. Planting trees, choosing public transportation, or supporting local clean air initiatives can make a difference. Awareness is the first step toward change.

Join us in advocating for cleaner air. Together, we can help nature regain its voice.

Let’s work together to ensure our world thrives in harmony with nature.