Preliminary program

& Call For registration

"The Mission for a Salutogenic Healthy Society: Fostering a Healthy Environment for Healthy   People  in Singapore"


29 Oct - 2 Nov 2025 Designa and Health

14th World Congress and Exhibition

Deadline for Early Bird:

1st august, 2025

The Scientific and organizing Committee for Design and Health World Congress in Singapore

Prof. Alan Dilani Ph.D Academy for Design & Health, Sweden


Dr Alan Dilani is the founder of the International Academy for Design & Health and World Health Design journal. He is the author of numerous books, articles and research papers on salutogenic design. Dr Dilani has collaborated with universities  worldwide, applying and advancing teh theory of Salutogenic design in both research and practice. Awarded by American Institute of Architects for his high quality research in the built environment.

Prof. Ray Pentecost, DrPH, FAIA, Texas A&M University , USA


Dr. Ray Pentecost is the Director of the Center for Health Systems & Design at Texas A&M University, and President of the International Academy for Design & Health. Ray is a Fellow in both the American Institute of Architects and the American College of Healthcare Architects, a former Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Ray is widely known for his leadership in this field. Internationally, he is the current global Co-Director of the International Union of Architects – Public Health Work Programme (Paris).In the United States, he is a two-time Past President of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health, as well as a Past President of the American College of Healthcare Architects.

Arch. Ruby Lai, Sinagapore 


Ruby Lai is a Senior Consultant (Architecture) at CPG Consultants, with over four decades of experience in architectural design and project management. Her extensive portfolio includes work in public-sector buildings, such as healthcare and educational facilities, reflecting her dedication to functional, community-centered architecture. Her expertise extends to facilities handling communicable diseases, where she was one of the pioneering architects during the SARS outbreak. Her dedication to healthcare facility design led to her involvement in developing Singapore’s first National Centre for Infectious Diseases, which strengthened the nation's capabilities in infectious disease management and prevention.

Prof. Hessam Ghamari, Ph.D. USA


Dr. Hessam Ghamari is professor in the Interior Design for the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Interior Design in 2014 from Texas Tech University. He
has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences on environmental psychology, and healthcare design. He is director of Academy Awards at International Academy for Design and Health.

Arch. Tiah Nan Chyuan Vice President SIA


Dr Zdravko Trivic is Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, where he also serves as the Director of Master of Urban Planning programme and Urbanism Research Cluster Leader. His research focuses on: multi-sensorial approach to urbanism; health-supportive and ageing-friendly design; architectural cognition; urban spaces in high-density environments; arts, placemaking and participatory design.

Dr Rosalia Saimon, Ph.D.


Dr. Rosalia Saimon, a distinguished senior lecturer specializing in health promotion, is a trailblazer in the field of public health. With a keen research focus on the intersection of psychosocial and environmental determinants influencing health behaviors, she has made significant contributions to understanding and improving population health outcomes. A visionary in her field, Rosalia embodies the perfect blend of expertise, passion, and a genuine connection with the world around her, making her a respected figure and an inspiration to her peers and students alike.

Associate Professor Ruzica Bozovic Stamenovic 


Dr Ruzica Bozovic Stamenovic is Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore. Her research and teaching focuses on human ecology, health-restoring design theory and practices, and design for wellness in contemporary urban settings and mega-mature societies. She served as Deputy Head and Leader of Urbanism Research Cluster and was Faculty Fellow of The Centre for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University, Executive Board Member of the UIA Public Health Group and GUPHA (Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture).

Kuan Chee Yung, Architect, Singapore


Chee Yung was BCA-SGBC Green Architect of the Year 2017, has 28 years practicing architecture, master planning, interior design, product design and landscape integration. He was Founder Managing Director of CPG Signature Pte Ltd (IFLA 2021 & 2022 Award Winner), and VIA+Signature Pte Ltd ( First SR Kellert Biophilic Design Award Winner, 2017).He is currently Global Lead, CircularCORE at Consulus Pte. Ltd., a global Change by Design Firm, founding VP of The Circle for Human Sustainability, lecturer & curriculum writer for NAFA-UAS Bachelor in Biophilic Design Course.

Chetna Bhatia, NUHS, Corporate Infrastructure, Singapore


Chetna Bhatia is Senior Assistant Director at NUHS group Corporate Infrastructure Office. She is responsible for leading on Hospital Planning & Design within the NUHS cluster, including all new developments of regional hospitals and the redevelopments of the existing campuses. She is an advocate for using design as a tool to optimize rising costs in healthcare and actively seeks opportunities to use evidence-based design research to improve patient experience and staff productivity, for enhancing the quality of patient health outcomes.

Assistant Prof. Sahand Abbasi, Ph.D. USA


Sahand Abbasi is an accomplished and passionate designer, educator and researcher holding a Ph.D. in interior and environmental design from Texas Tech University. He currently serves as an assistant professor and program lead in interior design at South Dakota State University, bringing immense expertise to his teaching. Additionally, Sahand utilizes his remarkable design skills as a design consultant at Studio West, a reputable boutique commercial design firm in Lubbock, Texas. He also leads the North America Chapter of the International Academy for Design and Health (IADH) as director.

Angela Lee,  AIA,  USA


As Managing Director of Asia Pacific and the EMEA, Angela has 30 years of healthcare planning experience and participating in the design and planning of over 1.6 million square meters of healthcare projects worldwide. Her projects have been honored with design awards from both the American Institute of Architects and Modern Healthcare. She has been recognized in publications such as Healthcare Design, Health Facilities Management, Healthcare Design Ideas and Medical Construction and Design. Most recently, Angela was elevated to the 2022 American Institute of Architects College of Fellows for her contributions to healthcare.

Er. Yong Seow Kin, Director Facilities Development , Singapore Health


Seow Kin oversees the design and development of healthcare infrastructure facilities in the biggest public healthcare cluster in Singapore. Seow Kin has more than 30 years of experience in the development and management of infrastructure facilities, of which 20 years are in the healthcare industry. Her other experience includes developing and managing high tech semiconductor facilities, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing plants and world renowned airport. The high standards demanded in these facilities have given her a solid foundation in developing high quality healthcare facilities.

Dr. Calvin W. Luk, Ph.D. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University


Dr. Calvin W. Luk is Acting Director and Project Manager- Spatial Team Leader of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He develops and leads community participatory action research on topics spanning Universal Accessibility, Inclusive Design for people with disabilities, Therapeutic landscape for Dementia, and Environmental assessment of care facilities for older persons. He engages extensively in community and urban infrastructure projects, including the government Rehabilitation Policy Plan and Occupational safety & health study for aged workers.

Download all presentations of the last congress WCDH2024


Session 1: Scientific Introduction of the Congress

Alan Dilani (Sweden), The Science of the Salutogenesis, Theory and Application

Stefano Capolongo (Italy), The Hospital of the Future

Stefano Boeri (Italy), The Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) Green Residential


Session 2: Healthcare Design

David Rakel, MD (USA), The Science of the Salutogenesis and Healthcare Delivery

Andrea Brambilla (Italy), Sustainability in the Next Generation Hospital. Needs and requirements

Tye Farrow (Canada), Embreathment, Embodiment, Environmental Enrichment, improved outcome

Margreet C. Vos (The Netherlands), Design a Safe Hospital for Patients and Healthcare Staff

 

Session 3: Case Studies Healthcare Design

Sonika Rawal, Celen Pasalar (USA), Impact of Urban Park Design on Recovery from Stress

Eduard Boonstra (The Netherlands), Why a “Blue Hospital” Design? How to Achieve?

Maddalena Buffoli (Italy), Urban Green Space Design and Frequency Exposure Impact

Erica Brusamolin (Italy), Designing Community Health center to Improve Well-being

Marco Gola (Italy), Rethinking the Territorial Medicine in Italy

Erica Isa Mosca (Italy), Advanced Design Strategies for Community Health Center in Italy

 

Session 5: Urban Mental Health / Supportive Environment

John Zeisel (USA), Healthy Aging Includes Aging Well with Dementia

Tianzhi Sun (Italy), Supporting Healthy Aging Community by Design and Health Impact

Calvin WH Luk (Hong Kong), Salutogenic design for therapeutic garden in a vertical city of Hong Kong

Silvia Mangili (Italy), Assessing the Quality of Built Environment for People with Dementia

 

Session 6: Urban Public Health  

Antonio Gomez-Palacio (Canada), The Community Well-being Framework

Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi (Italy), Urban Health - Interdisciplinary Resilience Assessment

Ruzica Bozovic Stamenovic (Singapore), Singapore: Shaping the Salutogenic City for Resilient Future

Fei Lian (China), Effects of Neighborhood Environment on People with Cognitive Impairments

Mauricio Rosso (Colombia), The Critical Role of Urban Environment on Health of People

 

Session 7: Healthy Buildings

Enzo Grossi MD (Italy), Neurobiological Salutogenic Mechanisms of Architectural Beauty

Francesqca Jimenez (USA), New Workplace Design with Positive Effects on Employee Physical Activity

Andrea Möhn (The Netherlands), Healing Architecture: six case studies of room renovations

Argiro Dimoudi (Greece), Zero Energy Building Strategies for Hospitals

Mohana Das (Hong Kong), Salutogenic Design and its Role in Enhancing the Sense of Belonging

Eleonora Zioni (Brazil), Neuro-urbanism and Mental Health: designing the salutogenic city 

You are invited to submit abstracts of 400 words in English. The abstract should clearly state the objectives, methods used, results and conclusions.