Healthy Design Trends and Predictions for 2025

As we welcome a new year, we reflect on the advances made in healthy, sustainable design and envision a realizable future filled with transformative possibilities. These 2025 predictions represent more than just trends; they are a wish list for the building industry—a roadmap inspired by the architects, designers, and manufacturers who are leading the way. Here’s a closer look at  seven inspiring practices, accompanied by examples to encourage others to transform their own design and building approaches.

The shift from petrochemical-based materials to plant-based alternatives is accelerating. Bio-based insulation made from cork, hemp, straw, and other agricultural byproducts enhances energy efficiency, improves indoor air quality, and sequesters carbon. We see a growing commitment to biogenic materials that sequester carbon rather than emitting it.. 

Examples: 

• Thermacork Standard Insulation is a 100% natural, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable rigid-insulation material produced from natural cork
• Hempitecture leads with bio-based insulation made of hemp that improves energy efficiency and indoor air quality. 
• New Frameworks provides a revolutionary Straw Structural Insulated Panel (S-SIP), crafted from sustainably, locally grown agricultural byproducts.

Natural mineral and plaster finishes are gaining traction for their aesthetic and performance characteristics. Lime and clay plasters not only provide a luminescent appearance but also regulate indoor humidity and resist mold—all without the harmful VOCs found in conventional plastic paints. This move proves that healthier can be even more beautiful with tactile, natural surfaces that improve indoor air conditions. 

Examples: 

• American Clay produces natural plaster products that are toxic-free and promote healthier indoor environments. Their finishes bring a tactile, organic quality to interiors while improving air quality.
• Clayworks clay plasters are blends of unfired clays mixed with natural minerals and pigments. They provide a 100% natural alternative for gypsum plaster and paint wall finishing, are free of heavy metals and can be composted.
• Earthaus’s Artisan lime plasters are made of lime, pumice, and a plant-based binder, all sourced from within the US. They are available in 3 finishes of varying levels of shine - Marble, Stone, and Sand. They are petrochemical and fragrance-free.

Circular design is redefining architecture as firms embrace upcycled and waste materials. This approach conserves resources, reduces waste, and extends the lifecycle of building components.

Examples: 

• MAD Architecture’s project KA13 in Oslo is Norway’s first commercial building made of 80% recycled materials, putting reused building materials on center stage.
• COAdaptive’s Recycled Content Apartment in Brooklyn, NY is a 675 sf home renovation with reclaimed materials that were used in innovative ways, resulting in a unique and cost-effective space.
• Lendager’s project Resource Rows features facades crafted from salvaged brick panels, cutting waste and conserving embodied carbon. 
• US-based DIRTT Environmental Solutions creates modular interiors designed for disassembly and reuse, offering flexibility and eliminating construction waste. 

The fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology is empowering large-scale production of bio-based and biodegradable materials. Innovations using agricultural biomass, fungi, and animal byproducts are shaping the future of sustainable design.

Examples: 

• Biohm, a London-based company, combines ancient building techniques with cutting-edge biotechnology to create materials like mycelium insulation and bio-based composites, advancing the vision of scalable sustainable materials.
• Mycoblocks, developed by MycoHab, merge agricultural biomass and mycelium to create biodegradable, blocks with minimal environmental impact. 
• Okom wrks labs is in the R+D phase to develop structural mycelium as modular interior and exterior walls that serve as structure, insulation, cladding and sheathing.

Cities are setting the stage for a healthier future through progressive building codes that prioritize low-carbon materials. Policies like New York’s Local Law 97 and Executive Order 22 encourage innovation and adoption of sustainable practices by setting ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment. Executive Order 22 goes further by requiring state agencies to calculate the embodied carbon of their projects, submit Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for key materials, and report embodied carbon data to establish benchmarks and drive demand for low-carbon options. There are tools available to support these efforts, empowering professionals to make informed decisions and track progress toward healthier, more sustainable building practices.

Examples: 

• Building Transparency’s EC3 calculator is helping construction professionals evaluate and reduce embodied carbon, fostering a culture of accountability and healthier practices.
• The Construction Material Pyramid, developed by CINARK, is an interactive web-based tool that makes it possible to compare CO2 footprints between different categories of materials or between material types within the same category.
• HML Material Collections, rigorously vetted for material health and tailored to support sustainable building practices, highlight materials available in specific regions, like the EU collection, or emphasize priorities such as reducing embodied carbon, aligning with progressive policies and tools that target healthier, low-impact construction.

Degrowth principles—emphasizing resource efficiency and adaptability—are influencing architecture. Smaller, multifunctional buildings use fewer resources while maintaining high-quality, flexible living spaces. This movement signals a broader push toward a more resource-conscious approach to architecture and housing. 

Examples: 

• Lacaton & Vassal’s transformation of social housing projects in France showcases the power of designing more with less. Their approach respects existing structures while creating adaptable, efficient living spaces.
• nARCHITECTS’s Carmel Place micro-apartment project features compact living units designed for efficiency and shared urban living. The project targets urban density challenges while promoting sufficiency.

Localized, community-driven design fosters social equity and environmental stewardship. By prioritizing locally sourced materials and working with communities, architects are creating spaces that support local ecosystems, prioritize social equity, and strengthen social connections.

Examples: 

• Mithun integrates community input into its affordable housing projects to prioritize health, well-being, and sustainability. Projects like Colina del Sol in San Diego and Casa Adelante demonstrate how thoughtful affordable housing can support social connection and resilience.
• Rural Studio designs and builds affordable, sustainable homes and community spaces made with locally sourced materials like rammed earth and reclaimed wood, reducing environmental impact while supporting local economies. 

These predictions highlight an exciting future for healthy design, where innovation and commitment to sustainability take center stage and, as reflected in the examples, are already happening. We continue to learn from these trailblazing examples as we strive to build a world that prioritizes health, equity, and sustainability.

What trends are you most excited about? And which ones are you applying to your practice this year?