we discuss activating a fitness facility in an office or residential development, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation factors in physical activity, real estate developers building gyms vs occupant demand for physical activity, automaticity and setting medium to long-term physical activity goals, solo training vs group fitness activities, sustainable objectives and more.
Read MoreWhat are the health risks of toxic building materials and products in interiors? Biofilico healthy building consultants answer this and more - covering Red Lists, the sources of toxins in interiors, healthy building standard guidance on avoiding toxic materials as well as links to our healthy building materials guide. Read on for more info!
Read MoreIn the context of sustainable buildings and interiors, embodied carbon is essentially a question of materials, healthy and environmentally friendly building materials, efficiently used, ideally in a redevelopment rather than a new build construction project.
Read Moresound therapy’s mental health benefits, how music can be a window into our soul, urban noise levels and the role of nature sounds in restoring a sense of calm amidst the chaos, deep or active listening vs passive, and how to re-create the sonic experience of forest bathing.
Read MoreThe role of acoustic in creating a comfortable environment for building occupants; how pink noise can cover up unwanted background noise, sound zones and spatial layouts; the all important distinction between sound, silence, the sounds of nature and noise; the role nature sounds can play in promoting wellness; and the main causes of noise in a building that need to be mitigated in a comprehensive healthy building acoustics plan.
Read MoreStrategies such as biophilic design, mental health programs, the encouragement of an active lifestyle and the provision of restorative spaces can all be used to increase mental wellbeing for building occupants. In addition, it is helpful to have a designated mental health champion as part of a healthy building concept.
Read MoreThermal Comfort in a Healthy Building strategy
Read MoreFacilities Management teams play a key role in delivering on a building's performance promises in terms of air quality, water efficiency, energy efficiency, thermal comfort and occupant wellbeing. Here we explore this topic from our perspective as Biofilico healthy building consultants.
Read MoreWe explore the connections between my world of healthy buildings and interiors, and Charlie’s world of healthy sleep. We discuss sleep hygiene, the physiological impact of sleep on our bodies not to mention our brains, pre-industrial age sleeping habits vs todays, the power nap as a productivity tool, how to create restorative spaces or sleep pods in an office or educational environment that people will actually use, and the role of meditation and restorative deep relaxation practices in improving rest.
Read MoreTalking smart buildings for improved air quality, energy saving and carbon capture with innovative software company CEO Sally R and Matt Morley of Biofilico for the Green & Healthy Places podcast on wellbeing and sustainability in real estate.
Read Moreacoustics are an important consideration in healthy buildings, healthy indoor environments and workplace wellness plans. While every space is different, the primary risks of poor acoustics are diminished attention, productivity (due to inability to concentrate for long periods) and memory retention. Those apply most directly to a learning or work environment while in a residential context there is also the risk of negatively impacting sleep quality.
Read MoreJust like adequate sleep and regular movement, nutrition and hydration both play a key role in human health. While there are of course any number of socio-cultural as well as psychological factors at play, the building interiors we spend most time in can play an important role in promoting healthy habits and behaviors. Leading healthy building standard WELL even has an entire section devoted to the subject. So how can we as healthy building consultants positively impact nutrition and hydration for residents, office workers and students? The answer lies in a combination of design and operational strategies.
Read MoreThere has never been a more urgent time to consider an enhanced ventilation strategy as part of a healthy indoor environment. Why does this ventilation matter and what can landlords, developers and workplaces do about it?
Read MoreTalking biodesign, biophilic design & sustainable design with Danielle Trofe, covering the potential of mycelium as a healthy building material, examples of biophilic design that are truly sustainable and biomimicry as a leading light in the new field of biodesign.
Read Moreindoor air quality / air purification / air ventilation / well building standard / healthy building / wellness interior / air quality monitors (kaiterra)Human exposure to unfavorable noises and improperly regulated acoustics has a tangible impact on mental wellbeing, concentration and focus. It’s not going to send you to an early grave perhaps but it can create a consistent, low-level anxiety and stress that accumulates over time. In other words, in the world of healthy buildings and wellbeing interiors, we want to implement a strategy upfront in order to minimize acoustic discomfort. Here is how we do it.
Read MoreThe Parsons Healthy Materials Lab is all about placing health at the center of real estate architecture and design. They aim to raise awareness about toxics in building products and create educational online resources for designers and architects that further that cause.
Read MoreWhat insights does natural nutrition offer to help us perform our best in the workplace?
Read MoreIn this episode of Green & Healthy Places podcast, we discuss trends in rooftop gardens in New York in the wake of Covid lockdowns, the wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature on a rooftop, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of a green roof from a range of different stakeholder perspectives - occupants, developers and city government. We look at green roofs and stormwater management, new legislation pushing for green and solar rooftops on new build projects in NY, the opportunities in rooftop food production.
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