G3 - Building Happiness Score

Beyond what we can measure

We spend a large part of our lives in buildings. We work or learn there, and we meet others to play sports or to relax. Yet we often judge buildings by things that are easy to measure: energy use, temperature, air quality or square metres. But what does that tell us about how people actually feel?

A building can perform well technically and still not be a pleasant place to spend time. That is why Heijmans wants to better understand how buildings can support our wellbeing. Together with experts
Together with experts in science and designer Govert Flint and architect Thijs van der Lely of ADL_VDL, Heijmans developed G3, the Building Happiness Score. The method brings together the needs of users and the characteristics of a building to show how well the two align.

Starting with people

What matters more than the score itself is what it reveals. Why does one place give you energy while another leaves you drained? Why does one person feel at ease in a space while someone else feels restless?

G3 helps us better understand this relationship and shows which changes could make a real difference. It offers a different way of thinking about design, interiors and building management: start with the people who use a building, not the building itself.

During Dutch Design Week, you can explore that relationship for yourself. What does a building need to support your wellbeing?