Episode Title: Can Buildings Help Us Live Better? DesigningEnvironments That Shape Health, Habits & Human Potential
Guest: Ken Fong – Director, Human-Centred Design, E-Lab

Can buildings help us feel better, think better even livelonger? Meet Ken Fong

In This Episode:
Meet Ken Fong, a purpose-driven architectblending health science, human psychology, and design innovation through E-Lab Consulting.

In this episode, Ken shares how the built environment canactively enhance wellbeing not just house our lives but improve them.

We dive into:

· Ken’s journey from mainstream architecture to wellness-focused design

· How buildings can influence mental health, productivity, and longevity

· The link between neuroscience, air quality, and space planning

· Designing spaces that promote connection, rest, and joy

· Real-life examples of buildings improving lives

· Why should architects ask: "How do people feel in this space?"

Connect and Follow Ken Fong
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-fong-75b00a65/
Website: https://www.e-lab.com.au/

Takeaways:

• Wellness design is not luxury, it’s foundational

• Light, air, sound, and space can drastically impact human behaviour

• Architects have a responsibility to design beyond aesthetics

• The future of buildings is human-centric, not just code-compliant

• Small design choices can lead to big health outcomes

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Elab and Human Centered Design

03:29 Understanding Human Centered Design

06:32 Ken Fong's Engineering Journey

09:28 The Intersection of Engineering and Wellbeing

12:36 Personal Coaching and Habit Formation

18:27 Functional Medicine and Holistic Health

27:13 Understanding Stress and Burnout

30:40 Mindset and Health

33:27 The Built Environment's Impact on Well-Being

41:20 Personalized Health and Future Trends

50:50 Exploring Wellbeing and Habits

50:51 Insights into Well Buildings and Their Impact

Sound Bites / Quotes:

"You are what you repeatedly do."

"We spend 90% of our time indoors."

"Small habits lead to big changes."“Architecture has the power to shape how we feel, not just how things look.”“The building itself is a partner in how people live or struggle.” “There’s a science behind why you feel good in some spaces, and not others.”

Referenced in This Episode:

· The Healthy Buildings Movement https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2022/12/12/why-the-healthy-buildings-movement-is-good-news-for-everyone/

· Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/330/article/897090/pdf

· Neuroscience for Architects (Ken referencesemerging research)

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