The seventh edition of the SIRENE Science Café, held on September 13, 2024, brought together participants interested in the intersection of social innovation and Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE). Organized as part of the SIRENE project’s mission to support eco-friendly and sustainable community-based services across Europe, this virtual event provided a platform to raise awareness of how design, health, and urban wellbeing can work in harmony to create healthier living spaces.
The session featured Professor Marta Fernandez, Executive Director of RMIT Europe, as the expert speaker. With her background as a Chartered Chemical Engineer and PhD in Carbon Sequestration, Professor Fernandez brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion. Her expertise in urban wellbeing, energy efficiency, and nature-based solutions made her a perfect fit for exploring the connections between buildings and health. She has been actively involved with the International WELL Building Institute, which has developed global standards for health-focused building design.
Professor Fernandez’s talk focused on how buildings can directly influence the health and wellbeing of their occupants, especially in the context of chronic conditions. She emphasized the role of design in creating environments that support not only physical health but also mental and social wellbeing. Her presentation delved into the importance of integrating health-promoting features within architectural and urban planning, a concept that aligns closely with SIRENE’s objectives of fostering age-friendly, sustainable, and smart living environments across Europe.
She discussed her collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute, which has developed a set of global standards for healthy buildings. This work has laid the groundwork for building environments that actively contribute to better health outcomes, reduce stress, and create spaces that are conducive to a higher quality of life. Professor Fernandez also highlighted the growing trend of nature-based solutions in urban planning, which harnesses the power of natural elements to improve air quality, reduce urban heat, and promote a sense of calm.
