Sustainable and Healthy Environments Lab
A lab specialised in developing applied research aimed at understanding how the built environment can improve sustainability and health through the design of high performance spaces.
The Lab works in close collaboration with key stakeholders to develop projects aimed at evaluating the design, performance and experience of spaces, providing the evidence needed to address real-world challenges. Research developed informs improvements that can positively affect people’s satisfaction, productivity and wellbeing.
Key research streams include:
- Post-Occupancy Evaluation
- Design, performance and experience of spaces (workplaces, schools and precincts)
- Natural ventilation and thermal comfort in subtropical and tropical climates
Research projects
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SHE Post-Occupancy Evaluation survey
SHE is a powerful data collection vehicle feeding ongoing research projects about the performance of spaces from the occupants’ perspective now and in the future. Post-Occupancy Evaluation
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Designing Offices Well (DOWell)
Improving workers’ productivity, satisfaction and health through evidence-based design Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Evaluating how we work during COVID-19
This project aims to collect relevant information about working arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results will identify key challenges faced by workers during the pandemic and inform strategies post-2020. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Liveable precincts
This project evaluates key challenges and opportunities regarding the design of employment precincts, including sustainability and health outcomes relevant to workers, buildings, organizations and the community. Design, performance and experience of spaces Precincts
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Understanding building performance during the 2019-2020 bushfire season
This projects aims to provide evidence about office buildings’ indoor environmental performance during the extreme bushfire season experienced during 2019-2020. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Designing high-performance learning spaces
This project maps key design features of contemporary learning spaces, with emphasis on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) performance and opportunities for reducing sedentary behaviour. Design, performance and experience of spaces Schools
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Workspace design and high performance environments
This project aims to map key design attributes shared by high performance, Activity Based Working (ABW) supportive workplaces. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
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Understanding the role of office design in government workers’ satisfaction and productivity
Understanding the role of office design in government workers’ satisfaction and productivity. Design, performance and experience of spaces Workplaces
Our people
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A/Prof Christhina Candido, Director, The University of Melbourne -
Prof Rebecca Bentely, collaborator, The University of Melbourne -
Dr Behzad Rismanchi, collaborator, The University of Melbourne -
Ms Diksha Vijapur, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne -
Ms Cida Ghosn, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne -
Dr Samin Marzban, collaborator, The University of Wollongong -
Ms Iva Durakovic, collaborator, The University of New South Wales -
Dr Arianna Brambilla, collaborator, The University of Sydney -
Dr Ozgur Gocer, collaborator, The University of Sydney -
A/Prof Nimish Biloria, collaborator, The University of Technology Sydney -
Dr Kenan Gocer, collaborator, The University of Sydney -
A/Prof Martin Mackey, collaborator, The University of Sydney -
Prof Dian Tjondronegoro, collaborator, Griffith University -
Dr Renata De Vecchi, collaborator, Federal University of Santa Catarina -
Dr Bahareh Nakisa, collaborator, Deakin University
Engagement
Recent publications
Marzban, S., Candido, C., Mackey, M., Engelen, L., Zhang, F., Tjondronegoro, D. (2022), A review of research in Activity-Based Working over the last ten years: lessons for the post-COVID workplace, Journal of Facilities Management
Buenocore, C., De Vechi, R., Ramos, G., Andre, M., Candido, C., Lamberts, R. (2022), Towards resilient cooling possibilities for Brazil’s hot and humid climates: exploring exploring the national thermal comfort database, Routledge Handbook of Resilient Thermal Comfort, Taylor and Francis
Candido, C. (2021), Healthy Homes: Designing with Light and Air for Sustainability and Wellbeing, Building s and Cities, https://www.buildingsandcities.org/insights/reviews/healthy-homes-review.html
Candido, C., Gocer, O., Marzban, S., Gocer, K., Thomas, L., Zhang, F., Gou, Z., Mackey, M., Engelen, L., Tjondronegoro, D. (2021), Occupants’ satisfaction and perceived productivity in open-plan offices designed to support Activity-Based Working: findings from different industry sectors, The International Journal of Corporate Real Estate, https://t.co/vdxz5cWpgv?amp=1.
Candido, C. (2021), Wind, making the invisible visible: design for and with natural ventilation (book chapter), in Drawing Climate: Visualising Invisible Elements of Architecture (Edited by Daniel Ryan, Jennifer Ferng, Erik L'Heureux), Birkhauser.
Candido, C., Bentley, R., Marzban, S. (2021), Reconcile Healthy Indoor Environments and Climate Mitigation, Buildings and Cities, https://www.buildingsandcities.org/insights/commentaries/ieq-climate.html
Vijapur, D., Candido, C. (2021), The role of design in creating healthy Flexible Learning Environments, TEMC 2021 (Tertiary Education Management Conference)
Vijapur, D.; Candido, C.; Göçer, Ö.; Wyver, S. (2021) A Ten-Year Review of Primary School Flexible Learning Environments: Interior Design and IEQ Performance, Buildings, 11, 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11050183
Marzban, S., Durakovic, I., Candido, C. (2021), Working from home during COVID-19 induced lockdowns: results from Australian workers and organisations, 27th annual conference of the European Real Estate Society (ERES).
Candido, C., Durakovic, I., Marzban, S. (2021), From nice to have to must have in the Post-Covid workplace, Pursuit, https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/
Marzban, S., Durakovic, I., Candido, C., Mackey, M. (2021), Learning to work from home: experience of Australian workers and organizational representatives during the first Covid-19 lockdowns, Journal of Corporate Real Estate
Brambilla, A., Candido, C., Sangiorgio, M., F., Gocer, O., Gocer, K. (2021), Can commercial buildings cope with Australian bushfires? An IAQ analysis, Buildings and Cities 2 (1), 583–598.
Brambilla, A., Candido, C., Gocer, O. (2021), My home is making me sick! Implications of poor indoor environment quality on mould growth, 1st International Conference on Moisture in Buildings (ICMB21), https://www.scienceopen.com/document/rea
Candido, C., Marzban, S., Haddad, S., Mackey, M, Loder, A. (2020). Designing healthy workspaces: results from Australian certified open-plan offices. Facilities (in press), https://doi.org/10.1108/F-02-2020-0018.
Tavares, S. G., Sellars, D., Mews, G., Dupré, K., Candido, C. and Towle, S. (2020) Public health and wellbeing in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design. The Journal of Public Space, 5(2), pp. 1-6, https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202441/
Ghosn, A. A. B,, Furuyama, C. M. S., Trigo, Pellegrini, J, Candido, C.; Shimomura, A. R. P. (2020). Daylight Performance Evaluation in a Modern Brazilian Heritage Building. Analysing Daylight Assessment Tools. In: 35th Plea Conference: Planning Post Carbon Cities, 1-3 September 2020, Coruña, Spain.
Candido, C., Backhouse, S., Marzban, S., Durakovic, I., Ghosn, A. (2021), From individual (office) bubbles to connected (home) bubbles: what's next for academic workplaces?, TEMC 2021 (Tertiary Education Management Conference)
Buonocore, C; André, M; Ramos, G.; De Vecchi, R; Cândido, C.; Lamberts, R. (2020). Exploring the Brazilian Thermal Comfort Database: an overview on the main contributions. In: Proceedings of 11th Windsor Conference: Resilient Comfort, p. 1052-1064. 2020. ISBN 978-1-9161876-3-4.
Candido, C., Chakraborty, P., Tjondronegoro, D. (2019). The Rise of Office Design in High-Performance, Open-Plan Environments. Buildings, 2019 9(4), 100. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/9/4/100
Gocer, O., Candido, C., Thomas, L. and Gocer, K. (2019). Occupants’ satisfaction and perceived productivity in open-plan offices: lessons learned from high and low performance environments. Buildings, 2019 (9) 199. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/9/9/199
Reinhardt, D., Watt, R., Wozniak-OConnor, D., Candido, C., Cabrera, D., Titchkosky, N., Bickerton, C., Bohnenberger, S. (2019) Towards On-site, Modular Robotic Carbon-Fiber Winding for An Integrated Ceiling Structure. Construction Robotics, 2019. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41693-019-00019-3
Candido, C., Thomas, L., Haddad, S., Zhang, F., Mackey, M., Ye, W. (2019). Designing activity-based workspaces: satisfaction, productivity and physical activity. Building Research and Information. 47(3), 275-289. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09613218.2018.1476372?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=rbri20
Thai, P., Candido, C., Asumadu-Sakyi, A., Barnett, A., Morawska, L. (2019). Variation of indoor minimum mortality temperature in different cities: Evidence of local adaptations. Environmental Pollution, 246, 745-752. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749117348996?via%3Dihub
Vijapur, D., Candido, C., Gocer, O. (2019) A review of the evolution of flexible learning environments in Australia: for a better match of primary school design and IEQ. 53rd International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Roorkee, India.
