Our Blog

What Does Belonging Sound Like?

Across three workshops in Leeds, Chinese and Indian music and dance transformed shared spaces into places of calm, cultural recognition, community, and connection.

Beyond Quanta: Prof. Yuguo Li challenges how we think about airborne infection transmission

A new particle-based framework, a unified Clean Air Equivalent metric, and an answer to why COVID-19 superspreads more than influenza — seminar write-up from Leeds.

Designing buildings and cities that keep us well — Prof. Vincent Luo

From hospital wards to city heat islands — a Cardiff researcher whose ventilation work shaped WHO guidance on infection control.

"I don't know what a healthy building means" — and other honest moments from the HBN Showcase 2026

Six network leaders. One moderator. Eight questions from attendees. A panel discussion that didn't hold back — on what we know, what we don't, and where the field needs to go.

Your Building Has a Microbiome. Here's Why It Matters.

Over 40 researchers gathered at Nexus to ask: what does a healthy indoor microbiome actually look like — and what does that mean for how we design buildings?

Indoor Air Pollution and the Beating Heart

How sublethal carbon monoxide exposure interferes with the heart's electrical system — from ion channels to arrhythmia risk.

Bridging the Divide

Why Engineering and Arts & Humanities Need Each Other for Truly Healthy Buildings.

Retrofit Roulette: Why We Keep Getting Moisture Wrong

80% of building failures are moisture-related. Dr Sarah Price on why simply sticking insulation in is causing a 92% failure rate in some schemes.

Beyond the Blueprint: A Journey into Post Occupancy Evaluation

Pump-priming winner Alexa Ruppertsberg reflects on curiosity, connection, and why we need to ask if buildings actually work for people.

Social Housing Policy Shifts & Health Opportunities

Jon Fairburn and Louise Austin shared insights on transforming housing data into healthier communities through university partnerships.

Seminar Recap: Louis Platman (Museum of the Home)

Exploring the history of the home and health with insights from the Museum of the Home's collection.

Biophilic Design: Cultural Perspectives

Exploring how different cultures interpret and implement nature-inspired design principles.

Rethinking Hospital Ventilation for Infection Control

How advanced CFD modelling is transforming healthcare facility design — reflecting on Prof. Catherine Noakes OBE's keynote at the HBN launch.

UKIEG 2025 Conference: Sessions and Speakers

A preview of the keynote speakers and sessions for the UK Indoor Environments Group conference, covering indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and ventilation research.

Book of Abstracts published with ISBN 978-1-914241-91-8.

Seminar Recap: Pete Apps on Grenfell's Legacy

Vital perspectives on building safety, community resilience, and the lessons learned from the Grenfell tragedy.

Pump-Priming Projects: Spotlight on Progress

An update on our four funded pump-priming projects, exploring how building environments impact health and well-being.

Interview: Martín López-García on Mathematical Modeling

Discussing how mathematical modeling provides insights into air flow, pathogen spread, and occupant behavior.

Beyond Flushing: Pathogen Transmission

Two leading experts in environmental microbiology explore toilet hygiene and airborne pathogen transmission in indoor environments.

Energy and Air Quality Equality Workshop Results

Exploring the intersections of energy efficiency, air quality, and social equity to identify collaborative research opportunities.

What Makes a Building "Healthy"?

Perspectives from our launch event participants on the definition and components of a healthy building — from indoor air quality and thermal comfort to social equity.

Network Launch Success and Key Takeaways

A report on the successful launch of the Healthy Buildings Network Leeds, bringing together over 30 participants.