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Diary Highlights
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05 Jul 2017
Wellness Architecture Initiative hosts inaugural roundtable
Wellness continues to infiltrate industries and disciplines, and now is gaining traction in the architecture, engineering, and construction fields.
With spa and wellness clients searching for authenticity in their experiences, it stands to reason that they are going to start looking deeper than the service menu or room décor. Millennials, especially, are seeking businesses that demonstrate a commitment to myriad social issues, including the environment, sustainable business practices, and the creation of healthy work environments.
Last week, the Global Wellness Institute’s Wellness Architecture Initiative held its first global roundtable discussion at the headquarters of architecture, furniture and technology company Steelcase in New York City, which was attended by several dozen architects and designers from far-flung locales.
Initiative chair Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of US-based Vera Iconica Design, created an agenda that looked at the shifts in demand for wellness design, what meaningful results we’re seeing in enhancing health and wellbeing through design, and how the industry can move the conversation forward.
The roundtable discussion was made up of 15 participants, all experts in some aspect of architecture, engineering or design, and was moderated by Smith.
Many architects and engineers are thinking about ways to design and create buildings that make wellness more accessible to the mainstream, and there is already a quantity of research and information available to share.
Panel participants reported that clients today are increasingly interested in incorporating biophilic design principles and green walls, and there is a growing awareness of indoor air quality, awareness of light and its effect on people, and the need to avoid electromagnetic radiation. One designer commented, “We forget how much influence we have with every client and community contact where there is engagement.”
Businesses are starting to think holistically, across functions and industry, in both the public and private sector. From mayors of cities to parents of special-needs children, the number of inquiries into wellness design is increasing, the panel agreed.
From a financial standpoint, businesses are starting to see that environments created with wellness in mind are a way to differentiate themselves – as well as a way to increase ROI by keeping tenants longer.
But there was consensus that there is still some way to go to make the economics work, and a need to translate awareness of the opportunity into a widespread commitment. Government and regulatory bodies need to become involved, the panel agreed – the fact that wellness makes us feel good isn’t compelling enough to create regulations.
However, progress is being made; in the US, Fannie Mae, one of the biggest government-lending housing agencies, just launched its Healthy Housing Rewards initiative, which provides a financial incentive for healthy design features in newly constructed affordable rental properties. The first phase provides a pricing break for borrowers who incorporate design features that improve air quality, encourage physical activity, and incorporate common space, community gardens and playgrounds into their projects.
Panel participants explored how to elevate the conversations about emotional and spiritual aspects of wellness in design, which for now is mostly the realm of academic research. The key seems to be measurement; with organisations like Steelcase and Delos starting to measure social interactions and outcomes in wellness-designed spaces, there will be more support for the concept of wellness design as more data becomes available. Wearable technology can measure people’s reactions to wellness design by measuring heart rate or skin response, and seeing positive outcomes in places like hospitals and prisons with intentional design will also help the cause.
The roundtable also included individual presentations from Sally Augustin, PhD and principal of Design With Science, a firm that conducts studies and uses research to guide design principles; Paula Baker LaPorte, FAIA, a founder of EcoNest Homes, a designer and builder of natural and non-toxic structures; and James Brewer, workspace consultant at Steelcase, who showed a comparison of LEED, Fitwel, Well Building, and the Living Building Challenge – four of the current leaders in wellness architecture guidelines.
The afternoon was spent in several workshops, with all of the attendees gathering into groups to discuss topics such as defining wellness architecture, measuring and metrics, and identifying other industries that can positively influence wellness architecture.
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27 Mar 2024
Thailand's first lady attends APSWC Awards ceremony recognising industry excellence
The Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC) recently marked another year of industry
achievement with a prestigious awards ceremony held during the 2024 APSWC Round Table
event in Bangkok, Thailand.
08 Mar 2024
Global Wellness Day 2024 to champion reconnecting with nature
Global Wellness Day (GWD) is set to mark its 13th annual celebration on 8 June 2024, under
the theme #MagentaNature, emphasising the vital connection between humanity and the
natural world.
04 Mar 2024
SHA Wellness receives top accolade at 2024 World Spa and Wellness Awards
Eight of the world’s leading spa operations were honoured at the annual World Spa and
Wellness Awards during a glamorous ceremony held in London over the weekend.
01 Mar 2024
Second edition of UK Aufguss Championships set to heat up Galgorm Resort
The ancient art of aufguss will be celebrated this April with the Second UK Aufguss
Championships at destination spa and hotel Galgorm Resort in Northern Ireland.
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06 Feb 2024
Canyon Ranch announces Enchant at The Ranch wellness festival
Destination wellness brand Canyon Ranch will host the first edition of its beauty and wellness
festival, called Enchant at Canyon Ranch, from 17 to 21 March at its Tucson resort and spa in
Arizona.
10 Jan 2024
Spas of America unveils Top 100 Spas of 2023, Spa at Séc-he lands first place
Spa and wellness travel website Spas of America has unveiled its Top 100 Spas of 2023, with
The Spa at Séc-he in downtown Palm Springs, California, taking the top spot.
20 Dec 2023
We Work Well unveils 2024 event schedule for fitness, wellness and hospitality industries
International hosted buyer event company We Work Well (WWW) has confirmed dates and
locations for its 2024 conference calendar.
11 Dec 2023
First Wellness Hospitality Conference attracts 500 attendees to Milan – dates revealed for 2024 event
The first edition of the Wellness Hospitality Conference (WHC), co-organised by Teamwork
Hospitality and InSpaTime, was recently hosted at the NH Hotel in Milan and attracted more
than 500 delegates.
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