From performance to people: A salutogenic approach to retrofi t assessment

This paper presents a critical perspective on the limitation of current carbon-centric retrofit frameworks in the UK, advocating for the integration of psycho-social factors as essential metrics in assessing retrofit outcomes. Drawing on salutogenic theory of health promotion and adapting Maslow’s theory of needs to the housing context, it argues that safety, belonging, and meaning are fundamental human needs that the built environment must fulfil. Positioning the home as a core social construct and enabler of long-term coping, the paper proposes a theory-driven, human-centric approach to retrofit of homes, using qualitative data analysis of lived experience of a small number of individuals who reflect on their perception of their homes. The approach prioritises psycho-social dimensions of wellbeing, highlighting the importance of neighbourhood-scale evaluation and understanding of relational approaches to decision making. By examining how individuals interpret and navigate their homes, this research seeks to inform the development of more human-centric retrofit strategies that are more responsive to human needs placing long-term health, wellbeing, and lived experience at the centre of decision-making.