Redefining the Dream House
If your home lacks a pulse, you may need to breathe life — and light — into it
What is your definition of a dream house? Perhaps it is a luxurious estate in the country. Or maybe a cozy beach shack. Or even still a sizable suite in the city.
Whatever your definition of a dream house, it probably lacks one thing: a pulse.
No, I’m not talking about a weird monster home from a Stephen King novel, but rather a Circadian house that captures and projects the living, breathing rhythms of daily and seasonal life itself.
In every individual’s mind, there is a definition of perfection, including of the perfect home. But idealized perfection does not tolerate fluctuation. So, while “dream houses” have an ethereal quality to them — they are “perfect,” and they represent that one, single ideal of what we aspire to and believe to define “perfect” — a TRUE dream house would be one that changes constantly, and appropriately.
In fact, the perfect home should be as alive as nature itself: it should accommodate changes in temperature — not only during the progression of the season, but daily, as dawn turns to morning and dusk turns to night. The same is true with regards to light: as the sun rises and sets, the light in your home should NOT be sourced from one internal florescent luminance but should instead soak in (and change with the arc of) the brilliant orb in the sky.
Though it seems counterintuitive, a smart home is one that does NOT have a single, highly regulated atmosphere, but rather one that is alive and responsive to the daily and hourly changes outside of its walls, roof and windows.
We call this the Circadian House.
Circadian House
A Circadian house pulses and breathes like a living being. It is a dwelling that promotes health by synchronizing the Circadian rhythms of its occupants to the 24-hour day-night cycle and the seasonal changes of day length. In this context, “health” is regarded as a state of complete mental, physical and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In other words, a Circadian house promotes not just physical health, but also comfort and general wellbeing.
An official definition of healthy housing does not exist. But there are three key Circadian House principles that define healthy living at home:
- Live in balance with nature: Well positioned for its occupants to live with and follow the daily and seasonal cycles of the outdoor environment.
- Adaptability: Has space and flexibility enough to allow its occupants to interact with changing conditions — both daily and seasonal.
- Sensibility: Provides protection against harmful substances, which humans cannot sense, and allows freedom to control parameters that can be sensed.
Let’s look at the first principle: balance with nature. The Circadian home has an innate connection to nature. Its residents can look out the windows, open the windows, and see and feel how the weather changes each day — and how the seasons change, as well. Psychological research shows that people need this interaction with the outdoors to feel well.
We all take in cues with our sense of smell, our visual sense, our sense of temperature. Temperature links very well to light. Some researchers found that, contrary to what some people might believe, humans do not really find one constant temperature optimal. We are stimulated by slight variations in temperature. That means when the temperature is the same all day long, it is not healthy for you.
Scientists have a seven-point scale of temperature acceptability, but we like to think of it as “comfort.” Some recent research shows that if you can train your body to temperature variations, you can have health benefits. Some body processes are initiated by temperature fluctuation, so keeping your body temperature constant is not a good thing. In these times of increased obesity, for example, research has found that exposing yourself to low temperatures can help prevent obesity.
In terms of the second principle, it’s important for your home to have a variety of room archetypes — and for you to use them: There should be different parts of your home that serve different purposes. The variability between rooms is critical, especially with regard to having different light exposures. A sun room, for example, with lots of glass, lets the temperature inside fluctuate with the outdoor temperature. Other parts of the house should offer a retreat from the natural world, where you will be less stimulated. Being able to choose how much external stimulation you get from outside, with regards to light and temperature, is crucial.
It’s also critical to have a day/night balance to your rooms, and thus the function of light levels is highly important. At night, your bedroom should be able to black out light to support good sleep. (Even a little light can suppress melatonin production, for example.) But in the morning, you want to have a place with plenty of light exposure, to “entrain” (or re-set) your Circadian system to the 24-hour cycle. Similarly, you want to have light levels geared to specific functions in the house: There are certain rooms in which having high light exposure is desirable, especially to start your light exposure in the morning: the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom, the dining room. You want, for example, to have high daylight levels while having your first meal of the day. And even sound plays a role. The presence of sound and contact to sounds from outdoors are desired during daytime, whereas quiet spaces are needed at night time.
The third principle can best be understood by pointing out the traits of “unhealthy” homes, and knowing what to avoid:
- Excess humidity; dampness; moisture problems. Consequences of such include an increased risk of asthma or allergy.
- Not being able to keep your home warm during winter; energy polity; poorly insulated, energy-inefficient heating.
- Overheating during summer. Even a moderate heat wave can have an effect on health and sleep.
- Lack of daylight: This is being recognized as an increasing issue with a large population in Europe, with a correlation to reduced health in general.
Smart Houses in the Future
There is a growing recognition that the Circadian House principles play a key role in both sustainability and increased health, which happen to be the most desired characteristics of the so-called “smart houses” of the future. In these gadget-heavy intelligent homes, residents will be able to better control their indoor environment by using, for example, external solar shading and regulating temperature with windows and thermostats. Psychologically, humans will feel more “in control” of their homes.
But are these programmed homes the real “dream houses”? Perhaps. A good intelligent home is one that can mimic what we want to do, but don’t have the time to oversee. When it comes to, say, ventilation, people know they should use airing before going to bed but may be taking care of other things — from cooking to laundry to helping kids with their homework. The house — this living, breathing entity — may be able to learn your behavior: the light settings you like, the music you like, the individual tastes and preferences of the different residents, such as a father, a mother, a teenager — each different.
But it will have to be intuitive. If you find yourself asking “Why is my window opening now?” and you have to readjust it, it will be less of a dream house and more of a nuisance.
Given that we’re spending more and more time in our homes, the opportunity to weave the Circadian House principles into the homes of the future makes ever-more sense. In that way, we can all collectively share some common characteristics of the dream house.
