First WELL in Lisbon
Building Resilience Through Health, Sustainability and Human-Centred Design.
WELL in Lisbon brought together leading voices from across architecture, real estate, sustainability and public health to explore the future of healthier, more resilient cities.
Organised by the Portuguese Academy of Neuroarchitecture (APN) in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the event created an important platform for conversations around climate resilience, ESG, wellbeing and the evolving role of the built environment.
Hosted at The Club – Tazte Secret Spot in Lisbon, the programme welcomed developers, consultants, architects, investors, policymakers and sustainability leaders from across Portugal and Europe.
As climate pressures, social expectations and new regulatory frameworks continue to reshape the sector, the event focused on how buildings and cities can better support both people and planet.
Key themes explored throughout the day included:
- ESG and real estate
- Health and wellbeing in the built environment
- Climate resilience and sustainable development
- Neurodesign and human-centred spaces
- Social impact and quality of life
- Circular construction and material reuse
- The ROI of healthy buildings
Built for Marketing & Bioarch’s Participation
Built for Marketing was proud to serve as an event sponsor for WELL in Lisbon, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to conversations that shape the future of the built environment sector.
Together with Bioarch, Built for Marketing recognises the growing importance of sustainability, wellbeing and resilience within architecture, construction and real estate, and the role collaboration plays in driving meaningful industry change.
Representing both Built for Marketing and Bioarch, Rita Barata Castro, Associate Director at the BFM EU Office (Portugal), moderated the event’s English-language Fireside Chat.
The session brought together leading international voices from architecture, sustainability and urban development to discuss how the industry is evolving in response to climate urgency, wellbeing priorities and changing market expectations.
Rita Barata Castro’s Fireside Chat
Moderated by Rita Barata Castro, the Fireside Chat explored the future of Portugal’s built environment through the lens of resilience, regeneration and human-centred design.
The discussion featured:
- Ann Marie Aguilera – IWBI
- Margarida Caldeira – ULI Portugal | WIRE Portugal
- Susan Cabeceiras – Konceptness | WIRE Portugal
The conversation focused on several key challenges and opportunities shaping the sector today.
Topics included the meaning of a “just transition” within the built environment, the growing importance of retrofitting existing buildings, circular construction systems, material reuse and the role of data and research in shaping healthier spaces.
The speakers also explored how successful regeneration projects must go beyond environmental performance and real estate value to create stronger communities, improve quality of life and support long-term social impact.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the growing shift away from purely technical sustainability metrics toward more holistic approaches that place wellbeing, inclusivity and resilience at the centre of decision-making.
Programme Overview
The full-day programme combined keynote presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities focused on sustainability, wellbeing and resilient urban development.
The morning sessions included opening remarks from APN and GreenLab, followed by a State of WELL update from IWBI and a keynote presentation by David Fernández Ortega from HoMU.
Panel discussions throughout the day explored:
- Investing in healthy buildings as resilient assets
- WELL and public health outcomes
- Social impact and quality of life
- The ROI of health-focused development strategies
The event concluded with closing remarks, award recognition and networking drinks, providing opportunities for continued collaboration and industry exchange.
