As part of its ongoing commitment to a healthier and more sustainable built environment, REHVA continues to empower the next generation of engineers, architects, and designers. At the heart of this mission is the Healthy Buildings Design Competition (HBDC), first launched in 2022 to foster innovation among students and young professionals.
The second edition of the HBDC finalized at the CLIMA World Congress 2025 in Milan, with the challenge of the renovation of a primary school built during Europe’s post-war baby boom era (1960s–1970s).
This year’s competition tasked student teams with creating renovation concepts for this aging school, placing children’s well-being at the core of their design strategies. Emphasizing a balance between health, environmental impact, and economic feasibility, the competition attracted strong proposals from university teams across Europe.
Three finalist teams were invited to present their innovative solutions in front of an international, multidisciplinary jury during CLIMA 2025. The presentations demonstrated impressive levels of insight and creativity, offering comprehensive approaches to transforming school environments into safe, inspiring, and future-ready spaces.
After thoughtful deliberation, the jury faced the difficult task of selecting a winner among the high-quality submissions. We are proud to announce that the Mindful Retrofitters have been crowned winners of the Healthy Buildings Design Competition 2025!
The team, composed of four students from Delft University of Technology, brought together diverse perspectives and global expertise. Hailing from Mexico, Romania, India, and France, the team members: Gaspard Marteau, Catalina Marina Persunaru, Alejandro Mendiola De la Peña, and Sana Hafsa, combined their passions for passive design, circular strategies, smart systems, material innovation, and community empowerment.
Their winning project stood out for its user-centric approach, integrating the children's physical and emotional well-being into every layer of the renovation. Their concept reflected a thoughtful balance of technical performance, sustainability, and social impact, all tailored to the context of a typical Milanese primary school.
REHVA and the competition organizers extend their sincere gratitude to SMAY Ventilation Systems, whose sponsorship made this edition of the Healthy Buildings Design Competition possible.
We also thank the jury members for their time, expertise, and commitment to young talent in sustainable building design.