The Green Route with MAREDI Design

As an expert in the built-environment, Gabriel Wilcox leverages his role as an architect through focusing on projects where he can integrate sustainable frameworks. Motivated to find solutions for some of the most pressing issues we are faced with in society, his work continues to center around improving the conditions of our buildings and spaces. One element that he believes has the power to deeply improve our built environment is by integrating more nature in design. Gabriel explains how this can be an extremely powerful and influential tool in reconnecting ourselves back to the natural world, which can provide better solutions for how we build and construct our spaces moving forward. He believes that the profound impact that biophilic design can have on humans, buildings and our health is undeniable and that by applying this philosophy more widely and with urgency, we will be able to establish a better future for generations to come. Mentioned in this episode: Krueck Sexton Partners International Living Future Institute Biomimcry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine Benyus Biomimicry, an Operating Manual for Earthlings - Interview with Janine Benyus A plant's-eye view - TED Talk, Michael Pollan Books by Douglas Farr How to grow clean air - TED Talk, Kamal Meattle Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As a well-seasoned expert in the field of sustainability and climate advocacy, Sarah Lazarovic has spent much of her career focused on building public awareness on the topic through various endeavors and creative projects. At Rewiring America, where she is Vice President of Communications + Creative Strategy, her work continues to grow in the organization's mission to electrify all 124 million homes in America. Their goal is to educate and inform all homeowner's of the benefits in electrification, some of which include cost savings, better indoor air quality and overall improved efficiency in energy consumption. They aim to transform norms and the market so that electrification becomes the best and most direct choice for the end-user. Sarah believes that the public will continue to be impressed by the results and solutions that electrification provides, both to our communities as well as to our planet. She shares insight on her positive outlook on our fight in the climate crisis and how we can all adopt a similar attitude. Mentioned in this episode: Rewiring America Rewiring America on IG Sarah's Website Minimum Viable Planet (Sarah Lazarovic) A Bunch of Things I Did Not Buy by Sarah Lazarovic PNNL Report Findings Pace of Progress Report (Rewiring America) Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Venn Diagram The All We Can Save Project Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As a leader in the field of sustainability, Stephen Filyo cofounded BlueEarth Deconstruction with the intention of using innovative business as a tool to protect the longevity of the planet. Faced with the harsh reality that about one third of all landfills are consumed by demolition and construction debris, his company aims to create incentives for people to consider a different path to more conscious building and renovation work. By focusing on everything that is reusable in a building, they are able to divert these materials from the waste stream by donating them to local nonprofit organizations for reuse. Stephen believes that we should all be building for reuse and not just single use in order to avoid producing these large volumes of waste. He shares his insight on the value of a deconstruction project and the urgency and importance of spreading the word on how we can shift from demolition to sustainable deconstruction collectively. Mentioned in this episode: BlueEarth Deconstruction BlueEarth Deconstruction on IG BlueEarth Deconstruction on Facebook Chicago Furniture Bank The WasteShed BMRA (Building Materials Reuse Association) Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As someone impassioned by sustainable principles and who has built a career on that foundation, Caterina Romanelli is a leading force behind her family's organic farm in the Northeastern corner of Italy, in a city called Udine. Balancing multiple roles, she is a lead ESG strategist in her professional life, while also forging her own path as the third generation and current visionary of that very farm, L’Orto Felice. As a self-proclaimed food lover, her passion for biodiversity and ecological preservation has inspired her hopes for the future of agriculture, and she is taking action in her daily role. Reinventing the farm as a community hub, filled with experiential (and experimental) events, Caterina believes in the power that food and agriculture have on individuals. She discusses the challenges of urban farming and shares actionable ways that we can all support local farmers (and eat delicious food), all while emphasizing the importance of seasonality throughout the process. Mentioned in this episode: L’Orto Felice CSAs La Ruche Qui Dit Oui FoodHub AMAP USDA Local Food - CSA US Directory Eat Well Guide - CSA US Directory Local Harvest - CSA US Directory Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As the ones who are typically the hosts and interviewers of this podcast, this episode is exploring new territory for us: Marc & Dijana as the interviewees! We wanted to properly wrap up this very first season of our podcast and decided that there was no better way to do so than to share a bit more about our story and how we got here with all of you. Even though we know each other pretty well and established that there would be no curveball questions per-say, we found that there was even a thing or two to discover from this conversation and some surprise nuggets for both of us. We'd be delighted to have you all tune into the conversation to learn more about our own individual origin stories as they relate to interior design, why we are so passionate about sustainability and all the reasons why we felt it was so necessary to launch this podcast! Mentioned in this episode: MAREDI Design MAREDI Design Highlights What’s So Luxurious About Luxury Vinyl Tile - Architizer article (Burgess Brown) Chicago Environmentalists (Chicago area) EcoShip Chicago WasteShed (Chicago area) Compost Basics Compost Resources - Chicago Chicago Citywide Service Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As a small-space and sustainable living expert, Laura Fenton has spent the better part of her career writing about homes within these contexts. Both a journalist and author, Laura's book The Little Book of Living Small along with her Substack newsletter Living Small, offer insight, ideas, actionable items and inspiration for those of us interested in this concept and lifestyle. Laura shares what she believes are the biggest levers that we can pull as individuals to lighten our carbon footprint. Not only does occupying a smaller space reduce your footprint, but she argues that less consumption is also key in this journey. She shares ideas for how we can all approach this notion of less consumption and why it is vital if we really want to effect change. Mentioned in this episode: The Little Book of Living Small by Laura Fenton Living Small (Laura Fenton) Young House Love (Sherry & John Petersik) Give a Sh*t (Do Good, Live Better, Save the Planet) by Ashlee Piper Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle* by Lloyd Alter Carbon Upfront (Lloyd Alter) Rewiring America Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As a market-trend insider and observer, Haley Chouinard has built her journalistic career working at the top interior design publications and platforms. Now, as the managing editor of Business of Home, the daily publication of record for the design industry, Haley describes the moment she became interested in sustainable design. Her passion has fueled her quest in exploring how manufacturers are participating in the call and demand for more sustainable products and materials from the interior design industry. A driving force for her is knowing that she can be part of informing designers and industry folks about the newest products, materials and technology that are greatly reducing the carbon footprint of our homes. She has even gone so far as to uncover and explain the incentives that exist from sustainable living, from tax incentives for the homeowner to manufacturer initiatives towards greener products. Mentioned in this episode: BoH Cash in on green design (Haley's article) Green Row Sabai Parsons Healthy Materials Lab Renovation Angel Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

Deeply impassioned by the low-waste movement, Sasha was inspired to create Green Life Trading Co., a refillery and low waste e-shop and brick-and-mortar shop in Madison, WI in her journey to reduce her own environmental impact. She believes in a balanced approach in consumption management and low-waste habits and is a major proponent of "progress over perfection.” This is exactly why Sasha believes that the low-waste movement needs to continue to be inclusive and meet people where they are in order to work towards success. With a focus on closed-loop supply chains and sustainable packaging, she prides herself on the product transparency they offer and believes in an imperfect sustainability model to nurture a greener lifestyle. Educating her customers, both in-store and online, is foundational to her business in order for each person to find the products and level of implication that feels right for them. Mentioned in this episode: Green Life Trading Co. Green Life Trading Co. on IG The Loop Newsletter Ted Talk Saffi Saana (E-Shop) Green Box (Local Service - WI) Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

As the boss [lady] on many construction sites in the Midwest, Allyson Case Anderson, founder of Integro Builders, has a thing or two to say about the importance of assembling the ideal design team to ensure a successful project. She also believes in empowering the homeowner through education about the process in her quest to create transparency and build trust. With significant experience in the realm of historical restoration and remodeling work in Chicago and beyond, she believes that homeowners need to understand how the world affects their house. This is why she emphasizes the importance of building efficiency, performance, and resilience, while also considering the complexities of implementing sustainable solutions across her projects, while never ceasing to raise the bar on industry standards. Mentioned in this episode: Integro Builders Integro Builders on IG Passive House Certification - Phius House Builder Cosentino Warmboard Have thoughts or comments to share? Feel free to reach out to MAREDI Design at hello@maredi-design.com

See you down the Green Route with MAREDI Design!