How can we design for good housing quality in a cost­pressured market? In Scandinavia, we spend around 90% of our time indoors – much of it at home, especially during the winter months when darkness and cold keep us inside. The home is therefore a central part of our lives, with a strong impact on both well­being and quality of life.

Today, housing quality is mostly defined by meas­ urable standards such as size, daylight and technical performance. But quality of living also depends on the “non­measurable” aspects – like spatial experience, light, colour, materials, surfaces, sound and even smell. These sensory qualities are essential to how a home actually feels to live in.

When economic priorities dominate housing development and human needs are pushed aside, we risk losing valuable qualities. In my project, I explore material quality, spatial experience and sensory values – and why these deserve a stronger presence in housing, even within a cost­driven market.