Deep Green

• Fractals: Nature's Healing Patterns in Design

  In the 1960s, mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot began exploring a concept he initially called self-similarity—geometric forms whose parts resemble the whole. A simple example is a straight line: any segment of it is also a straight line.But this kind of geometry also appears in nature, like in the head of Romanesco broccoli. Each floret forms a spiral that mirrors the spiral arrangement of the florets on the entire head.In 1975, Mandelbrot named this phenomenon a fractal. It turns out fractals are everywhere in nature: the way rivers branch into tributaries, or how a tree trunk grows branches, which then grow twigs.More recently, researchers have suggested that human brains recognize these fractal patterns—sometimes subconsciously—and because we associate them with nature, seeing fractals can evoke similar calming effects as being in a natural environment.So, why discuss fractals on a podcast about sustainable architecture and design? Because fractals are common in pre-modern architecture—found in the ornaments of Gothic cathedrals and the niches of medieval mosques—and today, many designers apply fractal principles to objects and materials, creating products that evoke the same sense of well-being as natural environments.In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Momentum and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Dr. Richard Taylor, whose research underpins our understanding of fractal patterns’ impact, and Anastasia and Martin Lesjak of 13&9, who apply this research in their designs—including a new wallcovering collection for Momentum called Renaturation.ResourcesMomentum Renaturation Collection13&9 DesignDr. Richard Taylor’s ResearchThis episode was produced in partnership with Momentum and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Furnishing a Better Future

  When we think of all the ways we could be designing better buildings—especially commercial buildings like office towers or education spaces—there’s one lever that people still don’t pay enough attention to: furniture.Some numbers for context—about 8 million tons of office furniture end up in U.S. landfills every year. And for a standard office renovation, furniture and furnishings account for about half of the space’s carbon footprint.So yes, furniture can help prevent harm in the world. It can help us make better buildings. But here’s the exciting part: furniture can also be a tool for doing a whole lot of good.We touch and interact with furniture every day. Well-designed furniture can make a big difference to our health and well-being. It also takes skill and craft to produce, which means furniture can uplift and empower communities and involve them in finding solutions for people and the planet.In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with two guests who’ve been helping organizations make real impact through their furniture and architectural product selections: Lisa Brunie-McDermott, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at HNI Corp., and Madison Gentry, Architectural Product Sales Enablement Manager at Allsteel. Listen in as they discuss how using healthy, beautiful materials in furniture and furnishings can have a multiplier effect on our buildings.Resources:“How the Furniture Industry Is Stepping Up on Circularity”Allsteel SustainabilityHNI Corporate SustainabilityThis episode was produced in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Industry Insights and Updates in Manufacturing Certification | Metropolis & BIFMA at NeoCon 2025

  Francisco Brown, senior editor and engagement manager at Metropolis Magazine, interviews Steve Kooy, Technical Director of Health and Sustainability at BIFMA, live from the NeoCon Podcast Lounge. They discuss BIFMA's longstanding support for the furniture manufacturing industry, the evolution of sustainability certifications, and the importance of industry standards now more than ever.Learn more about LEVEL: level.bifma.orgThis episode was produced in partnership with BIFMA and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND, sponsored by Material Bank, and in partnership with HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• PVC Perspectives: The Path Forward

  Polyvinyl chloride—better known as PVC or vinyl—is one of the most ubiquitous plastics in our lives. You’ll find it everywhere: pipes, siding, wiring, flooring, upholstery, wall coverings, and even old-school vinyl records. Sixty-one percent of all PVC produced globally is used in buildings and construction. It’s more fire-retardant than any other common plastic, and with the addition of plasticizers, it can be made as flexible as fabric or as rigid as wood.In certain building types—like hospitals, hotels, and schools—PVC products are widely used because they’re durable, easy to maintain, and able to carry patterns and color. But many sustainability experts and design teams are urging the industry to reduce or avoid PVC where possible. When PVC isn’t responsibly manufactured or disposed of, it can expose workers and nearby communities to harmful dioxins. Poorly regulated PVC can also contain other chemicals of concern, such as heavy metals. For these reasons, the International Living Future Institute keeps PVC on its Red List of materials to avoid.So what’s the path forward? Should we focus on making PVC as safe and clean as possible—or invest in finding alternative materials that offer the same performance benefits?In this episode of Deep Green, created with our partner Mannington Commercial, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with three experts offering distinct perspectives: Shane Totten, vice president of sustainability at Mannington Commercial, which produces both certified, transparent PVC flooring and non-PVC resilient flooring options; David Briefel, sustainability director and principal at Gensler, and co-creator of the Gensler Product Sustainability Standards—a set of material requirements for the firm’s projects; and Annzie Barfield, interior design specialist at LaBella Associates, who works on education, healthcare, and senior living spaces where PVC products are often the default for flooring and wall protection.Together, they unpack the complexities—and possibilities—of designing with (or without) PVC.This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.Resources:“What Can We Do About PVC?” (METROPOLIS Nov/Dec Issue 2023)The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red ListGensler Product Sustainability (GPS) StandardsMannington Mills TransparencySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Designing Buildings to Heal, Not Harm

  Buildings account for 40 percent of global carbon emissions. The construction industry generates nearly a third of all waste in our cities and built environments. The buildings we live and work in influence 11 of the 23 social determinants of health—factors that shape our well-being. And the construction sector is also the second most at risk for labor exploitation and modern-day slavery. We get a lot wrong when we make buildings, and we've spent the last three decades trying to fix that. But what if we shifted our focus—not just doing less bad, but doing more good? That’s the promise of regenerative design: the idea that buildings can help nature regenerate, not just minimize damage.In this episode of Deep Green, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with one of the pioneers of regenerative design, Jason McLennan, chief sustainability officer at Perkins&Will. McLennan is the mind behind transformative frameworks like the Living Building Challenge, the WELL Standard, and the Living Product Challenge, as well as the Declare, Just, and Net Zero certifications. His work has earned him prestigious honors including the Buckminster Fuller Prize, the ENR Award of Excellence, and an Ashoka Fellowship.If anyone can help us see the big picture of sustainability in architecture, it’s Jason McLennan. Tune in for a conversation about the future of buildings, design, and how we can create a world where architecture heals rather than harms.This season of Deep Green is produced in partnership with Mannington Commercial.ResourcesThe Living Building ChallengeThe International Living Future InstituteThe WELL Building StandardThe Living Product ChallengePerkins&Will SustainabilityDeclare Label ProgramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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