What is Wellness Design?
What is wellness design? Historically, human beings spent 40% of their waking lives in nature. Today with our remote workplaces, we spend 90% of our time within a built environment; either working, sleeping, eating, or entertaining. Therefore, our built environment needs to be healthy – like nature, but it is not!
40% of building products and design practices are at their least unhealthy and at their worst, carcinogenic, leading to illness and threatening our longevity. This is the first time in America that our children’s health and life expectancy has shortened since the previous generation. So, “wellness design” is timely and relevant. Our ‘Human-centric’ design promotes health and well-being while creating a sustainable future for all.
Allow me to share with you the criteria that are most important for our well-being, and a sustainable quality of life:
Air
Quality
Water
Quality
Energy
Conservation
Sound
Mitigation
Optimum
Systems
Material
Selection
Environmental
Impact
Air Quality – Did you know that many building products contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that off gas harmful by-products like formaldehyde producing a toxic condition. Fresh air affects our alertness. By Increasing the amount of fresh air exchanges within our mechanical heating and cooling systems, we increase the air quality.
Water Quality – many older buildings still have lead plumbing pipes, which need to be replaced by copper, which is anti-microbial. Our municipal water sources may require high levels of chlorine, to kill harmful bacteria; but by the time the water gets to our home, we can filter that high dosage that damages your skin. A water filtration system for the drinking and bathing water is a great solution.
Energy Conservation – Integrating clean renewable energy and sources are not only good for us, but also our environment. We believe that smart technology and efficient building systems coupled with design can qualitatively enhance our physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
Sound Mitigation – Unwanted noise can disrupt our general calm and a good night’s sleep. Mitigating noise by acoustical design can enhance our sleep hygiene and our quality of life.
Optimum Systems – Advanced building systems that conserve energy and provide maximum efficiency integrate smart technology and enhance well-being. Pursue minimum impact on the environment with optimum building systems to benefit end users.
Material Selection – We select natural, sustainable material and products for our projects whenever possible. No VOC’s or harmful materials that will downgrade the health of a building and its inhabitants.
Environmental Impact – We consider the whole cycle when selecting desirable materials from the effort and means of harvesting materials, to transport and installation. Sustainably sourced materials with a minimum impact to the natural environment is critical in our material selection process.
Air Quality – Did you know that many building products contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that off gas harmful by-products like formaldehyde producing a toxic condition. Fresh air affects our alertness. By Increasing the amount of fresh air exchanges within our mechanical heating and cooling systems, we increase the air quality.
Water Quality – many older buildings still have lead plumbing pipes, which need to be replaced by copper, which is anti-microbial. Our municipal water sources may require high levels of chlorine, to kill harmful bacteria; but by the time the water gets to our home, we can filter that high dosage that damages your skin. A water filtration system for the drinking and bathing water is a great solution.
Energy Conservation – Integrating clean renewable energy and sources are not only good for us, but also our environment. We believe that smart technology and efficient building systems coupled with design can qualitatively enhance our physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
Sound Mitigation – Unwanted noise can disrupt our general calm and a good night’s sleep. Mitigating noise by acoustical design can enhance our sleep hygiene and our quality of life.
Optimum Systems – Advanced building systems that conserve energy and provide maximum efficiency integrate smart technology and enhance well-being. Pursue minimum impact on the environment with optimum building systems to benefit end users.
Material Selection – We select natural, sustainable material and products for our projects whenever possible. No VOC’s or harmful materials that will downgrade the health of a building and its inhabitants.
Environmental Impact – We consider the whole cycle when selecting desirable materials from the effort and means of harvesting materials, to transport and installation. Sustainably sourced materials with a minimum impact to the natural environment is critical in our material selection process.