Episode Title: Can Buildings Help Us Live Better? Designing Environments That Shape Health, Habits & Human Potential
Guest: Ken Fong – Director, Human-Centred Design, E-Lab
Can buildings help us feel better, think better even live longer? Meet Ken Fong
In This Episode:
Meet Ken Fong, a purpose-driven architect blending health science, human psychology, and design innovation through E-Lab Consulting. In this episode, Ken shares how the built environment can actively 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 E-Lab and Human Centered Design
03:13 Understanding Human Centered Design
06:06 Ken Fong’s Engineering Journey
08:51 The Intersection of Engineering and Wellbeing
11:47 Personal Coaching and Habit Formation
17:06 Functional Medicine and Holistic Health
25:14 Understanding Stress and Burnout
28:24 Mindset and Health
31:05 The Built Environment’s Impact on Well-Being
38:25 Personalized Health and Future Trends
47:18 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 references emerging research)
LET’S BE CONNECTED