![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=125e0f6ed10d9e4f58e508685e739131 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=6199f86039c988c7479c1cea7ce91fd3 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=69d07f88ebe6c58a337df4dfbc7fb791 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=a82d16541398d40f9b18cecd362366d9 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=934&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=0a5c69d0dce466e09bc9350323289f43 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=cc5f8c9c1feea9d856ad28ab5a766d0b 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-2-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=d9902e6abcd982de04fa77d8caef0b83 1920w)
Healthy Buildings = Healthy People with Valerio D’Angelantonio
Make’s sustainable design coordinator, Valerio D’Angelantonio, led a workshop centred on the health and wellbeing of building occupants. By retracing the deep bond between humans and nature, and how this connection has weakened over the past two centuries, Valerio explained how the quality of the places we live can impact our health – both positively and negatively.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=1cc91f0d51769115f19d9e61a1adccfb 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=9dedee6e30c16331f45ac3a6f173e6c4 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=d6b44ece22c8298f9dee34e9e424dca2 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=449f174a9188fd498ff23cddded077c5 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=ee8b6f30fcef8cb4077f66520193dc8b 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=73807044be1e7512e3228e29089755b4 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FMake-Neutral-Day-Healthy-Buildings-Healthy-People-1-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=b2e1aa968c6b4cedc463452a730b24f5 1920w)
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The WELL Building Standard is an internationally recognised assessment method that measures a building’s performance in terms of occupant health and wellbeing. Valerio illustrated how the WELL Building Standard can be applied, and he explained its philosophy for creating higher quality living spaces. Using various bodily systems as a starting point, Valerio demonstrated how the ten concepts of the WELL Building Standard relate to common architectural design challenges and how they can be resolved. Our role as designers extends beyond merely creating desirable living spaces to ensuring the wellbeing of occupants. Valerio’s insights inspired us to actively embrace our responsibilities and expand our focus beyond aesthetics and function.
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Regenerative Materials and Design with Ben Gardner
Ben Gardner, our in-house materials scientist, led an engaging exploration of regenerative materials, spanning the past, present and future of construction. Makers took a hands-on approach by combining the physical sample library with our online Materials database. The journey began with an examination of the steps required to enable regenerative designs and how existing materials and techniques must be replaced and reimagined. Using the materials library, we gained an understanding of the ecological impact of existing materials. Finally, we delved into the exciting world of future regenerative materials, designed to minimise primary resource usage and promote environmental regeneration, and explored how these materials could be integrated into future projects.
The challenge of balancing functionality and aesthetics with environmental responsibility is a crucial step towards achieving a regenerative built environment, and regenerative materials can be a powerful storytelling tool to achieve broader sustainability objectives. Throughout this workshop, we learned how material choices and construction methods impact the natural environment and contribute to decarbonisation. This immersive experience equipped us to make informed choices and actively contribute to a more regenerative and sustainable built environment as designers for our future world.
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Make Neutral Day 2023 was a powerful reminder of the role we play in shaping a more sustainable, equitable and resilient future. It was a day of introspection and inspiration, leaving us with a renewed commitment to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of our work. Let’s carry these lessons forward as we design and build the spaces of tomorrow, creating a world where architecture is not just beautiful but also a force for positive change.