Technogym
Technogym
Technogym

CLAD people

Veronica Schreibeis

Founder Vera Iconica Architecture


Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture, has spoken to CLAD about her mission to get wellness architecture on the agenda of the wider architecture community.

Schreibeis Smith will be moderating a Wellness Architecture Forum and Global Wellness Institute Roundtable on the topic in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in September 2018.

Making the case for an urgent need to improve on the “typically toxic and wasteful conventions standard in the building industry”, Schreibeis Smith said: “The population has never been sicker than it is today. Our bodies are constantly surrounded by chemicals and toxins in our foods and environments. Our ability to remain healthy is like a rain barrel...we can handle a lot, but when our exposure gets too high, we overflow and start seeing environmental stressors manifest as illness or disease.

“From an economic standpoint [wellness architecture] makes sense. Well building developers are assuming a 10 to15 per cent cost increase for healthier building materials and systems. This is recouped by charging a premium for the real estate, as the end users justify this by valuing their health and wellbeing.”

Schreibeis Smith defined wellness architecture as: “The art and science of designing the built environment to empower people to thrive across all dimensions of wellbeing (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social and environmental).”

Asked how architects can sell the idea of wellness architecture to their clients, Schreibeis Smith said: “Wellness architecture is essentially an insurance policy to help empower clients to live the lifestyle they aspire to and promote physical and mental long term health. Lifestyle is influenced through ‘nudge architecture’, a practice that uses environmental psychology to help shift behaviour patterns. 

“Physical and mental health is influenced by designing with materials that purify the air, or designs with appropriate daylighting to nourish circadian rhythms which leads to healthy hormone production that can assist in the prevention of disease and illness.”

Vera Iconica Architecture was set up by Veronica Schreibeis Smith in 2010 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a focus on ‘how environments impact human wellbeing and planet earth’. The practice recently merged with Peruvian firm Luis Longhi Architecture. Ongoing projects include the Hotel Valle Sagrado in Cuzco, Peru.

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: Alliance Leisure
The company’s core business is the provision of facility development and support for local authorities, educational establishments and leisure trusts that want to improve or expand the leisure products and services they offer.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The design of Little Pine was inspired by a “simple mid-century Scandinavian ski house”
Moby believes public spaces 
should be designed to make 
people feel happy and comfortable
"Comfort is not always photogenic"

Architects must not forget the people who use their buildings

Heatherwick’s 1000 Trees development in Shanghai, China
"The entire way of living is changing in Asia, and the need for communities is on the rise"

The new wellness communities changing the face of residential design in Asia

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
VIA 57 West’s residential units surround a central courtyard garden
Beat Schenk
"Bjarke was this young kid, quite brash and totally insane, but with really good energy, directing the team about what to do next."

On meeting Bjarke Ingels at OMA and VIA 57 West

Centro Botín is the first building Italian architect Renzo Piano has designed in Spain
"It will become one of the centres of reference for art in Europe - Inigo Sáenz de Miera, Botín Foundation"

Renzo Piano’s Santander art museum

Decq opened the Confluence Institute architectural school in 2014
Decq has been recognised for raising the profile of women in architecture
"Things have improved, but not enough"

On women in architecture

features
"It was born from the sheer anxiety of having to submit something brilliant in a very short timescale"

How a moment of desperation led to BIG’s CopenHill, the clean power plant that’s doubling as a skiing and leisure destination. Magali Robathan speaks to the architects that made it happen

cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
cladkit product news
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Technogym
Technogym