Answers

Longevity architecture is a design discipline that integrates peer-reviewed longevity science into the residential and hospitality built environment. It treats the home as a 23-hour-a-day exposure surface and specifies it for the body that lives inside it. The category was codified by Kas Bordier through the MAVI 129™ framework, which scores ten interconnected biological domains across one hundred and twenty-nine measurable factors. Every recommendation is cited.

The category was codified by Kas Bordier, Geneva-based principal of MAVI World, through the MAVI 129™ framework. Kas has worked for two decades at the intersection of UHNW residential, hospitality, and longevity medicine.

A peer-reviewed methodology that scores a residence across ten interconnected biological domains (Air, Water, Light, Sound, Temperature, Materials, Microbiology, Technology, Mind, Habits) and one hundred and twenty-nine measurable environmental factors. It is documented at https://mavilongevity.com/glossary and applied through the Snapshot, Diagnostic, and Living Diagnostic products.

People spend more than ninety percent of their lives indoors. The architecture around the body produces the air it breathes, the water it absorbs, the light that sets its hormonal state, the sound that determines its cognitive baseline, the temperature it regulates against, the materials its skin contacts, the microbes its immune system trains on, the EMF environment of its sleep, and the habits its layout silently programmes. Most of those exposures are designed by accident.

The aggregate output of the MAVI 129™ framework for a given residence. A 0 to 100 score with band placement, derived by weighting each measured factor against its evidence base. The free Snapshot returns an estimated MAVI Score from public data; the Diagnostic returns a fully measured MAVI Score from indoor instrumentation.

In most homes, yes. Indoor PM2.5 averages two to four times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, primarily because cooking, candles, vacuuming, and infiltration from outdoor pollution concentrate inside a sealed envelope. CO₂ in a closed bedroom routinely exceeds 1500 ppm by morning, which measurably degrades next-day cognition.

Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres. It penetrates deep alveolar tissue and crosses into the bloodstream. The WHO 2021 annual guideline is 5 µg/m³. The single highest-leverage indoor intervention for most homes is a MERV 13 or HEPA filtration upgrade on the HVAC return.

Increase ventilation. The simplest interventions: open a window 1 cm overnight, install an HRV/ERV (heat- or energy-recovery ventilator), or specify a balanced mechanical ventilation system at design stage. CO₂ above 1000 ppm degrades decision-making; the bedroom is where most homes spend the longest period above that threshold.

Yes. Gas combustion produces NO₂, ultrafine particulate, and small amounts of benzene and formaldehyde. Without an externally-vented hood running during cooking, kitchen NO₂ regularly exceeds outdoor regulatory limits. Induction cooking and proper externally-ducted hoods resolve almost all of this.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, "forever chemicals". They are persistent and accumulate in the body. The EU drinking-water limit is 100 ng/L for the regulated sum of twenty PFAS. Testing requires a certified lab; some utilities publish results. Point-of-use reverse-osmosis or a properly-specified PFAS-rated carbon block removes the regulated species.

Often yes for shower and bath water (skin and lungs absorb chlorine and shower-water contaminants at rates comparable to ingestion), and for hard-water mineral management. For drinking water, point-of-use filtration at the kitchen tap is more cost-effective and easier to maintain.

No. Bottled water consistently shows higher microplastic concentrations than equivalent municipal supply, and the lead-time at room temperature in plastic increases endocrine-disrupting compound transfer. Filtered tap water in glass containers is the cleaner default in most developed markets.

Equivalent Daylight Illuminance, melanopic. The illuminance a non-image-forming photoreceptor (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell) would receive. It is the unit that actually governs circadian effect, replacing the older lux-as-brightness measure. Daytime targets above 250 melanopic lux at the eye; evening targets below 10.

Three interventions in priority order: (1) blackout integrity (window blackout fit, no standby LEDs, no light leakage under doors); (2) low-melanopic evening lighting (warm, dimmed, indirect, ideally below 10 melanopic lux at the eye in the hour before sleep); (3) cool sleep temperature (16 to 19 °C ambient, depending on bedding).

In the evening, yes, but the more accurate term is "low melanopic load," which is achieved by warm-spectrum lamps (under 2700K), dimming, and indirect placement. Glasses-based blocking is a workaround when fixture specification is fixed; it is not a substitute for designing the room properly.

Gradual artificial sunrise via bedroom lighting in the 30 minutes before wake, used where natural east-light is absent. Improves cortisol-awakening response and subjective sleep quality. Specified at the fixture and control level, not as a bedside lamp afterthought.

Chronic 45 dB(A) nocturnal exposure raises cardiovascular risk independently of subjective sleep quality, per WHO 2018. Most urban bedrooms are 35 to 45 dB(A) baseline; bedrooms on a busy road, near rail, or under flight paths are routinely above. Window upgrades, room geometry, and HVAC noise floor are the design variables.

Reverberation time: how long it takes sound to decay by 60 dB after a source stops. Long RT60 in hard-surfaced rooms (concrete, glass, polished stone) produces auditory fatigue. Soft furnishings, textiles, and acoustic ceiling treatment bring it into a restorative range.

For most adults under a duvet, 16 to 19 °C ambient. The thermoneutral zone for sleep is narrower and cooler than waking comfort suggests. Active cooling of the mattress (Eight Sleep, ChiliPad equivalents) is a workaround when the building envelope cannot maintain the ambient target.

Generally yes for thermal comfort and air quality. Radiant heating raises mean radiant temperature evenly without thermal stratification, doesn't create convective dust currents, and reduces drying-out of mucosal surfaces. The trade-off is response time and zoning complexity.

Slow release of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from new finishes, adhesives, and engineered-wood products. Peaks in the first six to twelve months after install but can persist at lower levels for years. Specifying low-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free engineered woods, and natural-fibre textiles at sourcing avoids most of this.

Specify untreated natural-fibre upholstery (linen, wool, cotton, hemp), refuse stain-resistant finishes, and check for PFAS-free certification on technical fabrics. Most stain-resistant treatments on sofas and rugs are PFAS-based. The cleanest move is to specify materials that don't need a treatment in the first place.

PTFE (Teflon) below 260 °C is generally regarded as safe; above that it begins to release toxic gases. The persistent question is the manufacturing chemistry, older PTFE used PFOA, and the wear of the coating over time. Cast iron, carbon steel, stainless, and properly-bonded ceramic are the longer-half-life choices.

Yes. Combined exposure to fungal spores and mycotoxins from damp building components is associated with chronic inflammation, neurological complaint, and immune dysregulation. Driven by humidity (anything above 60% RH for sustained periods), ventilation, and thermal-bridge geometry where condensation forms.

No. Indoor microbiome diversity correlates with adult immune resilience. Over-sterilised homes (bleach-everything, antibacterial-everywhere) reduce the beneficial bacterial population the immune system needs to train against. The rule is "clean, not sterile": humidity control, ventilation, and surface hygiene without aggressive antimicrobial chemistry.

The evidence base is mixed. The WHO classifies radiofrequency EMF as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen. Precautionary specification is cheap: keep Wi-Fi routers, mobile chargers, smart-meters, and DECT phones at least two metres from the head of the bed; the sleeping bedroom should be the home's low-EMF sanctuary.

High-frequency voltage transients on building wiring, produced by switching power supplies, dimmer switches, and variable-speed motors. Filterable at the panel with proven products. Most relevant where the household has many cheap switching loads (LED drivers, USB chargers) on the same circuits as sleeping rooms.

Design that integrates direct contact with nature, plants, water, daylight, natural materials, views, into the built environment. Reduces stress and accelerates recovery from cognitive load. The unit-of-work is not "more plants" but the view-cone from each major sitting or standing position; each cone should contain at least one biophilic anchor.

Higher ceilings produce more abstract, expansive cognitive states (the "cathedral effect" in environmental psychology). Lower ceilings produce more focused, detail-oriented cognition. Specifying ceiling height by room function, focused work versus expansive thinking, is an underused architectural variable.

The internal layout silently programmes daily steps (NEAT, non-exercise activity thermogenesis), kitchen-pantry flow biases food choice, sit-to-stand variation in workspaces affects circulation and cognition, and bedroom-to-bathroom distance affects nocturnal patterns. The home programmes habits before intention does.

Yes. Polycarbonate and many soft plastics leach endocrine-disrupting compounds, accelerated by heat and time. Glass and stainless are the longer-half-life containers for kitchen water. Same logic applies to food storage, kettle interior linings, and shower-curtain material.

Bryan Johnson's Blueprint Protocol specifies what enters the body, food, supplements, sleep schedule, exercise, diagnostic cadence. MAVI specifies the architecture the body lives inside, air, water, light, sound, temperature, materials, microbiology, EMF, mind, and habits. The two are non-overlapping and additive: a Blueprint practitioner in a measurably noisy environment is reverting half their own protocol every night they sleep there. A complete longevity practice has both halves. See https://mavilongevity.com/vs/blueprint and the editorial essay https://mavilongevity.com/journal/blueprint-and-the-room.

Adjacent and complementary. Peter Attia treats prevention as the central act of medicine. MAVI is the architectural arm of that prevention, the 23-hour-a-day exposure environment that medicine cannot reach. A Medicine 3.0 patient in a high-PM2.5, low-melanopic, high-EMF home is undoing measurable percentages of their own protocol every day.

WELL is a commercial-grade certification authored for offices and large hospitality. It addresses a partial set of factors at building scale and has mostly been adopted by tenants seeking certification. MAVI is residential-grade, body-side aligned, and integrates the full longevity-science stack including circadian biology at residential resolution, EMF, materials chemistry beyond VOCs, microbiome, and microplastic / PFAS load. MAVI is a methodology, not a certification.

Those are operators of branded longevity-residence projects. MAVI is the design methodology that specifies the residence itself. MAVI works alongside operators and developers as the longevity-architecture layer; Signature engagements are typical for branded-residence projects.

No. Most Signature and Implementation engagements run alongside an existing project team. MAVI provides the longevity-architecture specification layer; the client retains their chosen architect and interior designer. The only exception is residences where the client has not yet appointed a team, in which case MAVI can introduce a vetted shortlist.

The Snapshot is free. It pulls eight live environmental data sources for any address and returns four scored pillar cards plus an estimated MAVI Score with band placement. About seven minutes, no card required. Begin at https://mavilongevity.com/snapshot.

CHF 999 one-time. All ten longevity domains scored across the MAVI 129™ framework, reviewed by the MAVI team, and delivered as a Blueprint within twenty-four hours. Full refund within fourteen days.

CHF 999 setup plus CHF 199 per month. The Diagnostic kept current via wearables (Whoop, Oura, Eight Sleep, Apple Health), indoor sensors, and quarterly re-renders against the latest peer-reviewed sources. Direct line to MAVI for follow-up specifications.

Twenty-four hours from order to delivered Blueprint. The MAVI team reviews the inputs, runs the framework, and writes the bespoke Blueprint within that window.

MAVI works worldwide from Geneva. Recent and current project geographies include Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Monaco, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Mallorca, the Côte d'Azur, Marrakech, and Wadi Rum.

Higher-touch engagements (Review, Foundations, Implementation Partnership, Signature, Signature + Concierge) are by invitation, with pricing on application. Begin at https://mavilongevity.com/enquiry. We work with a small number of clients each year.

A bespoke document covering all ten longevity domains, scored against the MAVI 129™ factors for your residence. For each domain, the current state, the priority interventions, the supplier or specification reference, and the estimated cost. Reviewed and signed by the MAVI team, delivered within twenty-four hours. PDF and on-screen formats.

Yes. Gift Diagnostic purchases are arranged through the contact form at /enquiry, the recipient receives a private link to begin the Diagnostic at their own pace.

Peer-reviewed journals across environmental health, circadian biology, building science, materials chemistry, environmental psychology, and longevity medicine. The framework is documented and refined as the underlying science updates; clients on the Living Diagnostic receive quarterly re-renders against the latest sources. A reference list of foundational papers is at https://mavilongevity.com/references.

No. MAVI is a design methodology with a measurable output (the MAVI Score) and a productised delivery ladder. Certifications in the wellness-real-estate category are WELL, Fitwel, RESET, and LEED-Health; they are commercial-grade and partial.

Yes. The Foundations Session is the half-day starting point for hotels, residence clubs, and branded-residence concepts; the Implementation Partnership embeds MAVI through design, procurement, and construction. Branded longevity-residence and wellness-hospitality projects are a primary engagement category.

Yes. The MAVI Review is designed for owners deep in renovation or pre-purchase due diligence: a fully bespoke ten-pillar review of a single residence, plus architect briefing notes and a live call with the MAVI technical team.

Yes. The framework is delivered through AI-augmented analysis (architectural document parsing via IfcOpenShell, ezdxf, and CubiCasa; environmental data integration; Anthropic-backed mapping to the 129 factors), reviewed and signed off by the MAVI team. Anthropic Vertex Zürich for residency where required. The methodology itself is human-authored; the AI is a production tool.