Maria Faalafi warns sick buildings cause illness and invisible disabilities

Australians are getting sick from their homes and workplaces and most don't even realise design is to blame.
 

According to Maria Faalafi, founder of The Healthy Building Designer and one of Australia's leading advocates for health-focused, inclusive design, the country is facing a silent epidemic of building- related illness driven by toxic materials, poor ventilation, harsh lighting and overstimulating spaces.
 

"Many people spend thousands fixing their diet, their sleep or their mindset, yet they're living in environments that constantly trigger stress, fatigue, inflammation and chronic diseases," Faalafi said.
 

"Bad design isn't just ugly, it's unhealthy and it's making people very sick."
 

When buildings become the problem
 

With Australians spending more than 90 per cent of their lives indoors, exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), synthetic finishes, off-gassing furniture, mould, poor air quality and harsh lighting has become a serious public-health issue.
 

"Every day I meet people who think their headaches, anxiety or poor sleep are medical problems, when in fact, their homes or offices are usually the real culprits," Faalafi said.
 

"The truth is, our buildings can disrupt our nervous system, our hormones and even our cognitive function."
 

She explained that traditional building and interior design still prioritises aesthetics and cost over wellbeing, creating environments that are visually impressive but physiologically and physically harmful.
 

The hidden toll of bad design
 

Faalafi said poor design can trigger or worsen conditions such as migraines, asthma, anxiety, ADHD, chronic fatigue and many others.
 

"Fluorescent lighting, echoing acoustics, synthetic carpets, cleaning products, strong fragrances and poor indoor air quality can send sensitive nervous systems into constant fight-or-flight," she said.

"We've normalised living and working in spaces that our bodies are screaming against."
 

Her own experience living with vestibular migraines, a neurological condition that causes vertigo, light-headedness, brain fog, blurry vision and nausea, led her to uncover how profoundly design impacts the brain and body. That realisation inspired her to expand her knowledge in Building Biology, Biophilic Design and Neuro-design, launching The Healthy Building Designer to help others avoid the same health pitfalls.
 

Designing for health, not just style
 

Faalafi's approach focuses on low-toxic, neuro-inclusive and sustainable design, building spaces that support the nervous system and overall health.
 

She believes that creating healthier environments doesn't have to cost more, it simply requires awareness and better choices.
 

"Choose natural materials over synthetic ones, avoid fluorescent or bright lighting, improve indoor air quality and eliminate synthetic fragrances in the home are a great start" she said.
 

"These are simple, affordable changes that can transform how people feel and function every day."
 

A call for change across industry and government
 

Faalafi is calling for tougher standards across the construction and property sectors to ensure indoor air quality, lighting and material selection meet health-based criteria, not just structural or aesthetic benchmarks.
 

"We regulate what we eat and drink, but not what we breathe at home or at work," she said.
 

"It's time the government recognised that poor building design is a major health risk, particularly for children, the elderly and those with invisible disabilities."
 

She also wants to see training in healthy and inclusive design embedded in university architecture and interior-design programs, to ensure the next generation of designers understands the human impact of their decisions.
 

A national movement for healthier spaces
 

Faalafi's business, The Healthy Building Designer, offers consulting, online courses and practical guides that teach people how to create low-tox, sustainable and inclusive environments. Her mission is to make healthy design the new standard, not an optional upgrade.
 

"I'm not asking people to live in the middle of the bush to be healthy," she said.
 

"I'm just asking them to build homes that don't make them sick."
 

About The Healthy Building Designer
 

The Healthy Building Designer is an Australian design initiative founded by Maria Faalafi, a Building and Interior designer with over 20 years' experience in the construction industry. The business specialises in creating inclusive, low-tox and health-focused spaces guided by Building Biology, Biophilic Design and Neuro-design.

Website: www.thbd.com.au
Instagram: @thehealthybuildingdesigner
LinkedIn: Maria Faalafi