Post by Magdalena Blazusiak

What better venue for the culmination of my research journey if not the oldest university in Europe in beautiful Bologna? Talking about meaning, lived experience and how we negotiate our domestic realities within both home and neighbourhood context, I talked about #salutogenic design, prioritising health as the primary goal of #retrofit. We often forget that 'making sense' doesn't happen through critical evaluation, but through our perception, shaped by past experiences. Decisions people make about their homes are relational, always negotiating lived environments as our circumstances change. Safety, belonging, autonomy and control are the key elements of homes that need to be taken into account to successfully engage with occupants, and ensure long lasting outcomes. Prioritising carbon and technology driven solutions in retrofit strategies risks forgetting that buildings are not stand-alone structures, but they need to be responsive to the occupants behaviour, routines and understanding of their homes and circumstances. Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment - Robert Gordon University Dr Jonathan Scott FCIAT SFHEA Dr. Mohammed Seddiki M(Arch), PhD, FHEA, BREEAM AP