Works have started on site at the University of York for their new Interdisciplinary Facility for Indoor Air Quality and Health Research, also referred to as INTERIORS.

INTERIORS will sit within the University’s Campus East and will become a world-leading facility for the study of indoor air quality, shaping how homes of the future are built.

The project, designed by GSSArchitecture, will see the construction of two identical residential properties, one of which will be built to Passivhaus standards and the other to 1990s UK Building Regulations standards. Acting as typical three-bedroom houses, these two-storey dwellings with semi-open plan living on the ground floor will include a living room, kitchen, WC., three bedrooms, a bathroom and a hallway/lobby. Both properties are to be linked by a central single-storey laboratory facility which will offer space for scientists to measure how everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning and DIY affect the quality of the air we breathe at home.

The aim of building these two identical houses, but with differing standards, is to better understand how the airtightness and thermal performance of a building impact the quality of indoor air. Passivhaus refers to buildings that are built to undergo extremely energy efficient standards that go above and beyond the typical UK Building Regulations standards. The laboratory will therefore be able to gain a better understanding of the impact ventilation has on different properties for indoor air quality research.

Jonathan Hunter, Senior Partner at GSSArchitecture has commented: ‘GSSArchitecture is pleased to support a project that advances the understanding of the impact of Passivhaus standards. As a practice we have began incorporating these standards more frequently into our projects. I therefore value the opportunity to contribute to this important research.’

Tom Moorcroft, Project Manager : Capital Development has said, ‘We are excited to partner with GSSArchitecture on this project. Their innovative approach to design will help us create spaces that are not only beautiful and sustainable but also conducive to research and collaboration. We believe this project will significantly enhance our research capability and contribute to the University’s continued success.’

This project is one of many undertaken in collaboration with the University of York, GSSArchitecture is currently overseeing the New Global Bio-Economy Institute and refurbishing both the University’s Psychology Study Space and Computer Science Facility.