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Changing Tomorrow: Architecture, Equity, and Social Sustainability
Changing Tomorrow is the podcast for real estate developers, architects, workplace strategists, and corporate leaders whose decisions shape the built environment.
Each season tackles a critical, unresolved challenge at the intersection of sustainable design, commercial real estate, corporate strategy, and human performance. We look closely at the friction points where ESG goals and business objectives collide faster than the industry can agree on a path forward.
Through candid conversations with global practitioners, researchers, and cross-industry leaders, we test a fundamental question: can buildings, interior spaces, and organizations be intentionally designed to measurably improve human health, equity, and well-being?
Changing Tomorrow is powered by Liveable, an independent research and advisory organization setting a clearer standard for social value in the built environment. We work with real estate, workplace, and built environment leaders to understand how buildings, products, policies, and business strategies shape people’s lives. Through research, reporting, and strategic advisory, Liveable helps organizations assess human impact, communicate it clearly, and use it to make better decisions.
Changing Tomorrow: Architecture, Equity, and Social Sustainability
Designing for People and Planet: A Masterclass on Lighting with Nancy Clanton
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In this enlightening episode, Gayathri, founder of Liveable, sits down with Nancy Clanton, a pioneer in the lighting industry, to discuss a wide array of topics ranging from mental well-being to sustainable lighting. The conversation explores the intersection of human-centric design, sustainable lighting, and environmental responsibility. Through an intimate discussion, they touch upon everything from the role of daylight in architecture to the impact of light pollution on ecology.
Key Takeaways
Mental Well-Being & Workspace Design
- Mind Wandering: Nancy introduces the concept and highlights its significance in reducing anxiety and boosting creativity.
- Avoiding Straight Lines: Nancy advocates for avoiding rigid lines in architectural designs, underlining the importance of biomimicry.
- Movement in Nature: Nancy and Gayathri discuss how incorporating natural movements into spaces enhances serenity.
- Forest Bathing: Nancy speaks on the benefits of the Japanese practice of "forest bathing" for mental well-being.
- Equitable Design: A call to action from Nancy for more inclusive and people-focused architectural designs.
Views, Daylight, and Health
- Daylight Over Artificial Light: Prioritizing natural light in architectural design for better well-being.
- Design for People, Not Profit: They touch on the tendency of modern architecture to overlook human-centric designs.
- Views Matter: Emphasis on equitable access to views, irrespective of one's position in a company.
- User Feedback: Importance of post-occupancy evaluations to ensure people-focused designs.
Sustainable Lighting & Environmental Responsibility
- Sustainable Lighting: The need for eco-friendly lighting solutions.
- Ecological Impact: How artificial lighting affects wildlife and the natural environment.
- Standards: What industry standards say about responsible outdoor lighting.
- Overestimation of Lighting: Addressing common overestimations in lighting requirements.
- Health Impact: The detrimental effects of excessive artificial lighting on human health.
Resources and Links:
- Nancy Clanton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-clanton/
- Visibility innovations: www.visibilityinnovations.com
- Gayathri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayathri-ukrishnan/
- The podcast article, reading list and the specially designed workbook to apply the concepts discussed in this episode can be found here
- Research paper on mind wandering: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15502724.2022.2055428
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Liveable, an independent social sustainability organization based in California.
- Our Newsletter: If you like the podcast, you'll like the newsletter. Gayathri breaks down what it actually takes to build sustainable, human-impact frameworks: https://liveable.substack.com/
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