Can a good mood be designed? Experts discuss the wellness concept in architecture

Architecture and design can influence not only the visual perception of a space, but also people's health and well-being. Wellness Design, a field focused on the conscious design of buildings, interiors and urban environments, addresses this.

At Tashkent Design Week, Farrux Zakirov, founder of Technogym Uzbekistan, Maksim Oltyan, founder of the SAD studio, and Tamara Samadova, curator of Marie Wellness and Matcha Club, discussed why it is important to take into account a person's physical and mental state, as well as social well-being, in the design process.

“The environment determines a person's state”

According to Farrux Zakirov, founder of Technogym Uzbekistan, ideas about a healthy lifestyle have changed fundamentally in recent decades.

“About 60 years ago it was the era of bodybuilding. People strove to build up their muscles and achieve a massive look. Then came the era of fitness, where the main focus was on how a person looked in the mirror, their figure and waist measurements. Starting in 2000, fitness gradually began to shift toward the wellness direction on a global scale. Gyms began to be moved from basements to upper floors, and equipment manufacturers started collaborating with designers,” he said.

In the speaker's view, the next stage of the industry's development is connected with the concept of longevity — living a long life — which involves maintaining health, physical activity and quality of life into old age.

Maksim Oltyan, founder of the SAD studio, proposed considering architecture and design as a means of shaping a person's everyday experience.

“We must understand that everything around us today has been created by architects and designers. Clothing, buildings, the city — all of this has been built by human hands. There is one important truth: the environment determines the mind and the state. It puts us in a state on the basis of which we then act and carry it into our lives. As architects and designers, we directly influence how people experience those moments,” said Maksim Oltyan.

He emphasized that a designer's task is not limited to creating an aesthetically appealing object. It is important to think in advance about how people will use new spaces in everyday life.

“We are not building monuments to ourselves; we are creating an environment where people earn money, express themselves, love, and engage in sports. How inspiring and active this environment is depends on how we design it,” the architect noted.

Architecture's impact on human health is not determined solely by a building's layout and appearance. According to Maksim Oltyan, lighting systems, ventilation and acoustic comfort can directly affect concentration, productivity and the quality of decision-making. He cited office rooms as an example — insufficient ventilation there can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide, while improper lighting and noise can place additional strain on the nervous system.

“If we properly control the environment and create it at a high quality, we can increase employees' productivity and reduce the number of days they spend on sick leave,” he explained.

According to the architect, such solutions should be anticipated from the very stage of developing the project concept. If the need arises after construction is completed, making changes will be considerably more expensive.

“Gathering not only for food, but also for running”

In Maksim Oltyan's view, modern cities should create conditions in which walking, exercising and spending time in nature are more convenient than constantly using a car. As an example, he cited the project to merge the Central Garden and Ecopark in Tashkent. Here the point is not only to expand green areas, but also to establish pedestrian routes between them.

“If we build parks as linear spaces where people not only ride attractions, but also spend time in the shade of trees, do yoga or walk their dogs, this makes the city healthier. An improved urban environment affects mental health and quality of life, and may also help increase life expectancy,” the architect believes.

He also noted the development of communities united around common interests as another important direction. According to him, such a model already exists in Uzbekistan's traditional culture in the form of the mahalla, but its potential can be expanded further.

“If we can make it interesting for people to gather not only for meals, but also for running, walking and other activities, this will change the quality of life. We will have a healthier and happier society, and our cities will become more attractive for active and creative people,” Oltian said.

The discussion participants also considered why even a thoroughly designed wellness-space concept does not always guarantee a successful result.

According to Tamara Samadova, not only interior and architectural solutions matter, but also how well the space matches the product being offered, the quality of service, and the project's original idea. In design, it is necessary to take into account natural light, the amount of materials and colors used, as well as how comfortable it is for a person to stay in a given room for a long time.

Farrukh Zakirov, in turn, drew attention to the need to take into account the specifics of fitness and wellness areas already at the stage of developing a building's concept. For example, when locating fitness clubs, it is extremely important to consider sound insulation, acoustics and other technical indicators. The noise from dropped gym equipment can disturb people working or resting on the building's lower floors. If such areas are added to the project last, they are often allocated inconvenient spaces not intended for full-fledged physical activity, the speaker emphasized.

According to Zakirov, modern approaches to health are gradually shifting from treating diseases to preventing them. Spaces that help people maintain physical activity, eat properly, rest and communicate with others are becoming increasingly important. He cited the Wellness Valley project in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region as an example. Its concept envisions developing the territory through an infrastructure for physical activity that includes cycling and pedestrian routes, parks and public sports grounds.

Maksim Oltian said that the SAD studio is exploring the possibility of implementing wellness-village projects in Uzbekistan using Indonesia's existing experience as an example. Here we are talking about residential and public spaces whose infrastructure is initially organized around communities based on a healthy lifestyle and shared interests.

According to him, since people's needs and ideas of a comfortable life are changing, such an approach could become one of the promising directions for developing urban and suburban real estate.