Robert D. Henry
Architecture + Interiors
Our Wellness Mission
RDHA designs environments that prioritize well-being for our guests, patrons, viewers, habitués, bums on seats [just kidding], promoting personal health and longevity. As modern people, we spend 90% of our time indoors, thus our quality of life is directly affected by the built environment.
VALUES – Enhancing human health and well-being through architecture & interior design. Utilizing building systems with advanced technology to elevate health and comfort.
STRATEGY – Marrying evidence-based practices with experiential design. Integrating the senses: sound, touch, taste, smell, and sight; orchestrating into a comprehensive and memorable experience.
Design Criteria
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.
Air
Quality
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
About Robert D. Henry Architects
Robert D. Henry Architects (RDH-A), is an international “wellness design” firm prioritizing the well-being of its users and promoting personal health and longevity. Founder Bob Henry was inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle for innovative wellness design for both hospitality and residential projects.
The design firm integrates the (5) senses in their work while creating an experiential journey for guests. RDHA integrates evidence-based design systems to promote the quality of air, water, natural light, noise mitigation, and human-centric comfort for a sustainable future. Clients include Mandarin Oriental, Canyon Ranch, Steve Wynn, Setai-NY, and the royal family of KSA. RDHA strives for an architecture that not only looks good, but feels, sounds, and even smells good.
Bob has developed wellness design industry firsts over his 30-year career including NYC’s first Medical Spa, Canyon Ranch’s ‘wellness tower” prototype, and the Setia’s “urban retreat.” as He was recently selected by Hilton hotels to develop their “wellness standards” across all 13-brands.
He established well-being guest standards including design guidelines for their Spa and Fitness areas while integrating healthy lifestyle features for guests from the moment they check in to the time they check out. This included, “wellness suites” w/ in-room spa and fitness amenities along with signature bathing rituals for their luxury suites at the Waldorf Astoria properties.
Bob is the author of Spa: The Sensuous Experience and is a keynote speaker at Hospitality and Wellness conferences internationally.
Leadership
Robert D. Henry, AIA, NCARB, Founder & Principal
Robert D. Henry Architects (RDH-A), is an international “wellness design” firm prioritizing the well-being of its users and promoting personal health and longevity. Founder Bob Henry was inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle for innovative wellness design for both hospitality and residential projects.
Bob Henry is the founder and principal of Robert D. Henry Architects, an award-winning wellness architecture and design firm located in New York City. He is the author of the book SPA: The Sensuous Experience and has been interviewed extensively on his expertise in designing for health and well-being.
RDHA believes in exceeding the building code requirements to create the optimal environment for personal health and well-being.
Our evidence-based design and new building system technologies are seamlessly integrated into spaces for living, working, relaxing, and healing to positively improve user health.
Our health and longevity philosophy includes physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being strategies. The quality of air, water, light, sleep, noise, nourishment, and comfort are critical variables in our architectural toolbox.
Visit our portfolio of residential & hospitality projects and you will find a list at the bottom of each project description that outlines these “wellness” criteria for a healthier building and higher quality of life for its inhabitants.