Promoting Human Well-being and Environmental Health: A Framework for a Sustainable Building Typology, Case of Dilmunia, Bahrain

Abstract

The rising environmental challenges of climate change substantially impact human health. Subsequently, global architectural landscapes are evolving towards greener, healthier, and more innovative buildings that promote human and environmental health. As green buildings are still in their initial stages in Bahrain, this paper aims to adopt a qualitative approach to investigate the potential of proposing a new sustainable building typology in Dilmunia with a focus on healing and wellness. This is achieved through participatory research involving focus group discussions with experts and stakeholders in Bahrain's architecture, engineering, and construction industry. The discussions highlight the positive implications of the new building typology and emphasize the significance of implementing green building rating systems at the early stages of the design process, incorporating passive design strategies, designing communal activity zones, occupant behaviour, and managing operational expenditure efficiently. A framework is proposed to guide the design of a new sustainable building typology in Dilmunia that focuses on enhancing the well-being of the community and reducing the environmental impacts, whilst ensuring economic viability. The framework's applicability extends to other areas that share a similar socio-cultural background to enhance the quality of life through architectural design.