In the 1960s, mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot began exploring a concept he initially called self-similarity—geometric forms whose parts resemble the whole. A simple example is a straight line: any segment of it is also a straight line.

But this kind of geometry also appears in nature, like in the head of Romanesco broccoli. Each floret forms a spiral that mirrors the spiral arrangement of the florets on the entire head.

In 1975, Mandelbrot named this phenomenon a fractal. It turns out fractals are everywhere in nature: the way rivers branch into tributaries, or how a tree trunk grows branches, which then grow twigs.

More recently, researchers have suggested that human brains recognize these fractal patterns—sometimes subconsciously—and because we associate them with nature, seeing fractals can evoke similar calming effects as being in a natural environment.

So, why discuss fractals on a podcast about sustainable architecture and design? Because fractals are common in pre-modern architecture—found in the ornaments of Gothic cathedrals and the niches of medieval mosques—and today, many designers apply fractal principles to objects and materials, creating products that evoke the same sense of well-being as natural environments.

In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Momentum and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Dr. Richard Taylor, whose research underpins our understanding of fractal patterns’ impact, and Anastasija and Martin Lesjak of 13&9, who apply this research in their designs—including a new wallcovering collection for Momentum called Renaturation.

Resources

Momentum Renaturation Collection

13&9 Design

Dr. Richard Taylor’s Research

This episode was produced in partnership with Momentum and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we think of all the ways we could be designing better buildings—especially commercial buildings like office towers or education spaces—there’s one lever that people still don’t pay enough attention to: furniture.

Some numbers for context—about 8 million tons of office furniture end up in U.S. landfills every year. And for a standard office renovation, furniture and furnishings account for about half of the space’s carbon footprint.

So yes, furniture can help prevent harm in the world. It can help us make better buildings. But here’s the exciting part: furniture can also be a tool for doing a whole lot of good.

We touch and interact with furniture every day. Well-designed furniture can make a big difference to our health and well-being. It also takes skill and craft to produce, which means furniture can uplift and empower communities and involve them in finding solutions for people and the planet.

In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with two guests who’ve been helping organizations make real impact through their furniture and architectural product selections: Lisa Brunie-McDermott, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at HNI Corp., and Madison Gentry, Architectural Product Sales Enablement Manager at Allsteel. Listen in as they discuss how using healthy, beautiful materials in furniture and furnishings can have a multiplier effect on our buildings.

Resources:

“How the Furniture Industry Is Stepping Up on Circularity”

Allsteel Sustainability

HNI Corporate Sustainability

This episode was produced in partnership with Allsteel and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Francisco Brown, senior editor and engagement manager at Metropolis Magazine, interviews Steve Kooy, Technical Director of Health and Sustainability at BIFMA, live from the NeoCon Podcast Lounge. They discuss BIFMA's longstanding support for the furniture manufacturing industry, the evolution of sustainability certifications, and the importance of industry standards now more than ever.

Learn more about LEVEL: level.bifma.org

This episode was produced in partnership with BIFMA and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND, sponsored by Material Bank, and in partnership with HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.