What Makes Good Quality Housing?

Talk at London Build Expo exploring what good design really means in housing.

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At the London Build Expo, NOOMA Studio joined a panel discussion examining what “good design” truly means in contemporary housing delivery.

The conversation challenged the misconception that quality is synonymous with higher cost. Instead, the panel explored how early design decisions around orientation, fabric performance, servicing strategy and threshold conditions can deliver long-term value, reduced maintenance and improved comfort.

Discussion centred on climate resilience, passive performance, community-making and the social life of shared spaces. Particular attention was given to the importance of designing transitional zones — doorsteps, balconies, streets and courtyards — that encourage informal interaction and strengthen social cohesion.

Post-occupancy evaluation emerged as a critical theme. Learning from buildings in use, rather than relying solely on predicted performance, was identified as essential to improving future housing delivery.

The session reinforced that good housing design is fundamentally about care: for resources, for residents and for the long-term life of place.