wellness interior design consultants

Building issues such as loud HVAC equipment, improperly insulated spaces, or an excess of hard interior surfaces in areas with regularly high densities of occupants (and their conversations), can all contribute to poor acoustics and occupant discomfort. 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. Careful acoustic planning, the integration of acoustic materials and other strategies help to mitigate these risks.

A natural building material or textile derived from plant or animal sources, including the sub-groups of bio-fabricated materials made from algae, mycelium and hemp. By providing healthy, sustainable alternatives to toxic or resource intensive materials, such bio-based materials provide an increasingly viable range of options for the low impact, sustainable buildings of the future.

Design that leverages the innate human desire to connect with natural surroundings, in this case by bringing the outside world into the build environment through architecture, interiors and product design. Our particular definition of this concept integrates sustainability and wellbeing, the health of planet and people, with nature as the bridge that binds the two ideas together in one synergistic concept.

A smart lighting system that combines timers with changes to the emitted light colour in order to simulate the natural ebb and flow of daylight and darkness in a 24-hr cycle, ideally adjusted according to season and location. This equates to brighter, blue-white light in the mornings and daytime to stimulate cognitive performance, before fading steadily to warmer, amber hues in the evenings so as to promote the production of our natural melatonin hormone that ensures healthy sleep later on at night.

The use of research and data by healthy building consultants and architects to inform their decisions, resulting in buildings and interiors that leverage scientific thinking for the benefit of people and planet - occupants and environment. This strategy originated in hospitals, arguably where such decisions are most critical but it is now applied to all sectors, for example in the field of biophilic design.

Also referred to as healthy interiors, or wellbeing interiors, we define this concept as a combination of air quality, non-toxic material choices, lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort and biophilic design.

A product or material that contains relatively few allergy-producing substances. Examples of naturally hypoallergenic materials include silk, bamboo, and cotton, making all three especially useful for use in a child's bedroom for example.

Indoor air is affected by a range of factors such as off-gassing Volatile Organic Compounds, dust and other particulate matter ( PM2.5 / PM10), Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and, indirectly, humidity, and temperature. Wrap all of that up in the context of a building's ventilation, be that natural or mechanical, and if not properly monitored and maintained, poor indoor air quality can be a major factor in Sick Building Syndrome causing fatigue, drowsiness, headaches and scratchy eyes.

The term used in the WELL Healthy building standard to describe wellness interior set-pieces within the wider context of a building, for example a quiet room for meditation and naps, or an ecology room loaded with restorative biophilic design, all with the end goal of providing a place of mental rest and recovery for building occupants, be they workers, students or gym clients.

The polar opposite of a healthy building, symptoms might include headaches, respiratory problems, irritated eyes and sudden fatigue. These symptoms may apply to a whole building or to specific spaces, such as enclosed meetings rooms with poor ventilation. Primarily here the issue is poor indoor air quality due to a lack of ventilation, inadequate air filters and toxic materials off-gassing into the indoor air. An immediate response would be to install air quality monitors in order to help 'see' the air in those areas suspected of being most unhealthy.

Wabi sabi is a Japanese concept that finds beauty in the organic, the imperfect. Instead of insisting on industrially produced perfection, this approach embraces the handmade, artisanal and natural, preferring a connection with craft than a de-humanized production process.

In one sense of course, this could simply be a description of a healthy building. But if we are talking about a WELL Building (note the capitalization) then we are referring to a structure designed and certified to enhance the health and well-being of its occupants, based on the WELL Building Standard developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This standard focuses on key areas such as air quality, water purity, nutrition, lighting, fitness, comfort, and mental wellness. By integrating these elements, WELL-certified buildings promote healthier lifestyles, reduce stress, and improve overall occupant satisfaction and productivity. The approach emphasizes creating environments that not only support but actively improve human health and well-being through thoughtful design and operational practices.