Track: Biohabitability Health

Healthcare is a fundamental pillar of national development, particularly in Africa, where rapid population growth and economic expansion present both opportunities and challenges. Effective healthcare systems contribute to improved life expectancy, economic productivity, and overall social stability. In this keynote, David Adjaye will explore his vision for new models of economically sustainable healthcare and hospitals in shaping Africa's national development.

How can corporate social impact initiatives unlock talent, build more inclusive industries, and create long-term value for communities? This session explores the key insights gained from Limak Holding's experience on social impact initiatives, with a focus on the Global Engineer Girls program– supporting young women to pursue careers in STEM. It highlights how businesses can move beyond traditional CSR to create lasting change in the construction and engineering sectors, proving that genuine impact and business success are not mutually exclusive.

This presentation will address how the integration of innovative strategies and solutions in architectural design can directly improve people’s health and well-being. We will explore concrete examples where air and water quality, thermal, acoustic and lighting comfort, as well as ergonomics and accessibility, have been key elements in creating healthier spaces. We will briefly review the criteria for proper material and system selection. We will also examine how we have aimed to foster a connection with the natural environment and promote mobility and sociability within buildings, transforming them into environments that not only serve a function but also act as active agents in human health.

Architecture has a direct impact on human health, from the materials we use to the environments we inhabit. This round table explores how exposome research, material innovation, and bioconstruction expertise are redefining the way we design healthy spaces. A conversation between science and architecture to highlight building models that prioritize well-being.

Biohabitability is a multidisciplinary approach to achieving healthy homes by evaluating physical, chemical, and biological factors. Let’s discover what these factors are and how we can measure whether our home is truly healthy.

Did you know that the built environment affects your health more than you might think? Air quality, materials, lighting, and noise all influence well-being. However, measuring these impacts in isolation gives us only a partial view of the issue. In this talk, we will explore how digitalization and data analysis help us understand the relationship between the built environment and health.

The promotion and construction of affordable and social housing is not incompatible with housing dignity, and even less so with sustainability. The economic efforts required to achieve these goals are not especially high, although special attention must be paid to project design and the development of public-private collaboration models. There are already some successful examples.

La Termal is a private development of 14 apartments located in La Garriga and part of the European research program REN+HOMES. Built using the Evowall industrialized system, in collaboration with Roig Construccions, the building achieves the Passivhaus Plus standard. This high efficiency is one of the key aspects for achieving positive energy buildings. The project demonstrates the potential of industrialization to accelerate the ecological transition.