Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
Dr. Jenna Mikus is an architectural scientist, engineer, and well-being expert whose unique approach to design blends science, art, and music to create spaces that promote health and flourishing. We dive into the fascinating concept of eudaemonia, explore the importance of sound in environments, and discuss how Dr. Mikus’ musical background continues to shape her work in neuroarchitecture. Discover how intentional sound design can transform spaces and lives.
Guest
My guest today is joining us from Melbourne, Australia. Architect Dr. Jenna Mikus specializes in balancing wellbeing science with architectural science to promote health and well-being through design. Her primary objective is to curate environments for flourishing well-being. This work builds on her education in engineering/architecture/design and over 20 years’ consulting experience. Dr. Mikus is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Eudae Group. She has conducted research through fellowship appointments and is the founder of Harvard’s Flourishing by Design group.
Notes
We discuss:
- What is eudaemonia (also spelled eudaimonia) and eudaemonic design? How do these concepts relate to neuroarts, neuroaesthetics, and neuroarchitecture?
- In designing spaces for flourishing health and well-being, Jenna considers architectural science as well as the arts. She’s called herself an “artsy engineer.” She explains her musical background, and the intentional arts foundation her parents provided.
- How Jenna’s arts background impacted her vocational trajectory and continues to inform her work today.
- The eight senses that Jenna considers in curating environments for health and well-being:
- Visual System: Responsible for sight and processing visual information.
- Auditory System: Involved in hearing and processing sounds.
- Olfactory System: Deals with the sense of smell.
- Gustatory System: Responsible for taste.
- Tactile System: Involves the sense of touch, including pressure, temperature, and pain.
- Vestibular System: Helps with balance and spatial orientation.
- Proprioceptive System: Provides a sense of body position and movement.
- Interoceptive System: Internal sense of the physiological condition (hunger, thirst, pain).
- The musical considerations that Jenna factors into designing environments for human flourishing.
- One of Jenna’s specialties is eudemonic design for those with sensory sensitivities. She explains her personal connection with this topic, and elements she considers when designing for a neurodiverse population.
- Jenna’s specialties include Health & Well-being Science; Inclusive Design; Sustainability; and Smart Building Strategy.
Connect/Other Resources
- Dr. Mikus on LinkedIn
- Jenna is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Eudae Group (currently under construction but available again soon)
- Links to Jenna’s work on Google scholar
- Jenna is the founder of Harvard’s Flourishing by Design group.
- Resources recommended by Jenna on healthy building design:
- International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Building Standard
- General Service Administration’s Fitwel standard
- Harvard’s 9 Foundations of a Healthy Building
- Flourish FM podcast
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 153: Your Brain On Art: What is neuroarts, and how do the arts transform us? With Susan Magsamen, MAS
- Ep. 139: What is Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and what are its benefits? With Anthony Molinaro
- Ep. 112: How are the sounds of my life shaping my brain, and what does music have to do with it? With Dr. Nina Kraus
- Ep. 166: Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music; with authors Larry Sherman, PhD, and Dennis Plies, DA
- Ep. 65: Musical Playgrounds – the neuroscience of nature & music combined with PLAY! With Melissa Hughes, Ph.D.
- View all episodes related to Science & Health
In-Episode Promo
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Coda
Jenna shares about the loss of her mother and her desire to honor her mother’s musical contributions to Jenna’s life. Jenna sings a snippet from Thank You For the Music, featured in the Mamma Mia movie.
Closing Words
Thank you so much to Jenna for that touching tribute to her mother, and for all the ways she is enhancing lives with music and the arts through her work. If you found the topic of eudaimonia and eudaimonic design intriguing, be sure to check out the episode notes for all the links to resources from our conversation.
You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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