Healthy Building - What is important?

For example, no or hardly any formaldehyde is released into the indoor air.
When we measured, there was hardly anything in the air.

As for the rest, I’m out. I have it, I just never cared about it.

I think it’s like with sugar. Eating a piece of cake for enjoyment is not the problem. The sugar cube in coffee, the sugar in muesli, the hidden sugar in salad dressing, etc.

The pollutant released into the air from glue is minimal. Then you also have the lacquer, the carpet, and suddenly it’s too much.
Can you notice it? Probably not, unless you measure it. Do I get cancer from it? Maybe. But maybe it was also the packaging on the food.

Approach it with common sense and that’s it

Cancer is probably less common than, for example, neurological problems. Most of the organic compounds from the solvent range contain aromatics – also those in ecological materials – and they can cause a range of effects from headaches and asthma to neurological damage. More so in small children and pets than in adults.
Solid wood can also contribute to indoor air pollution. Simply through the volatile substances contained in the wood. Then there are adhesives, flame retardants, insulating materials, sealants… Ventilating a lot helps reduce the pollution. And yes, there are limit values for indoor spaces.

Well, we managed to complete a planning draft with our architect that we like. [...] Now I am dealing with how the house could be built.

If you really have a draft, this question is already answered and no longer variable. It is only variable up to the preliminary design stage, and from there to the design stage you absolutely have to "take along" your architect during discussions, because only in this part of the planning process are the course set for essentials such as whether the house should be built with masonry or timber frame. At the design stage, these decisions are already made and it is no longer possible to change the horse without inviting complications. The "process order" of the HOAI service phases does not allow, without penalty, to play princess behind such fundamental decisions!

If you really have a draft, this question is already answered and no longer variable. It is only variable up to the preliminary draft stage, and from there to the draft you absolutely have to "take along" your architect during discussions, because only in this part of the planning process are the course settings for essentials such as whether the house is going to be built with masonry or timber framing determined. At the draft stage, these decisions have already been made and changing horses then will only invite complications. The "procedural rules" of the HOAI service phases do not allow, without consequences, to play princess again behind such fundamental decisions!

Oh, what a pity... why?
Isn't it true that at the draft stage it is not yet fixed which adhesive, plaster, or paint will be used?

Cancer is probably less common than, for example, neurological problems. Most of the organic compounds from the solvent area contain aromatics – even those of ecological materials – and they can trigger a range of issues from headaches to asthma to neurological damage. More so in small children and pets than in adults.
Solid wood can also contribute to the indoor air load. Simply due to the volatile substances contained in the wood. Added to this are adhesives, flame retardants, insulating materials, sealants... Ventilating a lot helps to reduce the burden. And yes, there are limit values for indoor spaces.

Which, at the end of the day, means it’s better not to build at all.
Better not to eat anything at all.
Or build and not worry about it and just eat a burger sometimes without going into an identity crisis.
Entirely neutral and without personal opinion.

I think that and put it excellently and to the point.

All materials used today in a house meet our limit values and are harmless by themselves.

An additive consideration in a room is usually not made. In addition, there is a lot of furniture. What is ultimately all in the room can be made tangible for allergy sufferers and specialists with measuring devices. Most people will not be able to perceive any pollutant exposure themselves.

Here is my "healthy-building input for :

For us, the consequence was a careful selection of materials for house and furnishings according to the following aspects:

[*]natural materials are preferred (wood, clay, cellulose)
[*]what smells bad stays outside (e.g. I don’t like the smell of vinyl floors - no matter how well they may have been tested.)
[*]workmanship by craftsmen who think similarly to us in this respect and obviously like doing their job
[*]keeping distance from blindly limit-value-oriented indifferent people who don’t give it a second thought
[*]keeping distance from overzealous eco-missionaries who only see bad in the world
[*]very important: a good gut feeling - and at any time a partner’s veto right (if applicable).

In addition to the selection of materials, healthy building also includes considering personal aspects. Make your own list. For us, these aspects were essentially:

[*]a physically clearly perceptible radiant heat source
[*]maximum brightness in the dark season
[*]maximum connection of the interior to nature in order to have an “outdoor feeling” inside and, of course, to enjoy naturally fresh-scented air (blossoms, forest, meadow, rain, thunderstorm...)
[*]very large air volume in the living space with lots of natural materials (with us wood and clay)
[*]very good acoustics without standing waves, reverberation or harsh reflections
[*]consistent preference for the aesthetically perceived solution (sometimes very simple), because the eye lives along.

I also consider it indispensable when building healthily to make sure not to drive yourself crazy (because that is unhealthy) and to choose the right budget and financing for your own nerves (sleepless nights and worrying also make you ill). Better to build a little smaller, more modest, and more fitting than to jam together a euro-per-cubic-meter-optimized cuboid on the edge of feasibility.

In addition, choose the building site well and actively initiate a good neighborhood; disputes harm health even in the “healthiest” built house. (Hardly) nobody needs that.

Which basically means, better not to build at all.

If you take it even further and look at what we eat, wear on our bodies, wash and spray on ourselves, sit in plastic-polluted cars, breathe dirty air, etc., you should just take the next step and end your life.
Before being slowly or more quickly poisoned and wasting away for decades...

Could it be due to all the toxins that my children lack drive and hang in front of their phones, stupidly watching Twitch or sending snaps? Then at least I would have a real reason and wouldn’t always just babble about puberty :D