Lara Muller’s mission is to further develop and futureproof the real estate value proposition by adding a social dimension to it. As CEO, her focus lies on building a movement together with the BBI’s partners to advance human sustainability through the built environment.
Tell me about the blue building institute.
The Blue Building Institute is a not-for-profit social enterprise that aims to start and capitalise on a movement that places human well-being and health at the centre of the design and management of the built environment.
What led you to create the blue building institute?
We wanted to support the industry by sharing knowledge from all disciplines to really understand what it means and change design, construction, and real estate management practices to support a human-centric real estate management model. We believe that the sustainability agenda shouldn’t only be focused on the green, environmental aspects of sustainability. To be future ready, we need to integrate people holistically into the real estate business model to truly make it a “people, planet and profit” value proposition.
Why is this important?
The knowledge in this space is scarce. We are doing practical research to help prove that there is a business case for a human-centric real estate management strategy. Buildings that have a minimum footprint on the environment and contribute to the health and well-being of inhabitants are proven to perform better, have a fuller rental capacity, and better continuation of leasing contracts.
What role does acoustics play in creating a productive environment?
Distracting noise can result in a 66% drop in performance. Given that 92% of a company’s cost is personnel, it’s clear that acoustic considerations can have a huge impact.
What should a visitor feel or sense when they walk into a building with a human-centric philosophy?
Ultimately, it should be a space in which visitors feel they want to stay. The building should be designed and furnished in such a way that you feel either the same or, ideally, better when you leave the building than when you came in.
