Creating clean indoor environments. Henning Voss’s business creates home and workspaces which combine sustainable living and promote better health.
What’s your story?
I always had a passion for health, real estate and interior design. When I got into the Hong Kong real estate business back in 2007, I soon realised that there was an opportunity to combine my passions to create sustainable living and working spaces that are a true conduit to better health. A couple of years later, I took the experience we gained in over 30 renovation projects to create the Vivid Living Healthy Home & Office Blueprint. We have been involved in creating home and offices that optimise well-being and facilitate the healthiest lifestyle possible.
What excites you most about your industry?
The real estate industry is constantly changing and I am excited to see that larger developers are finally moving towards becoming more sustainable. Enhancing your health in the built-environment goes hand in hand with reducing its impact on the environment. More importantly, the occupants’ health and well-being plays a larger role in planning and designing real estate projects. This is very important considering that all of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I always wanted to work and live in Asia. Back in Germany I studied East Asian Studies and then continued my studies in Japan and China. After a one year stint in the U.K. to do my Masters I came back and worked in China, Singapore, Thailand and for over 10 years now Hong Kong. I am married to a German born Hong Kong Chinese so HK is really home away from home.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Definitely Hong Kong. Nothing beats the fact that on any given day you can easily arrange 8 business meetings and reach a beach in 20 minutes from the CBD.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
To read and try to live by the book ‘How will you measure your life’ by Clayton M Christensen. Especially when you live in Hong Kong, probably one of the world’s most materialistic cities, it is important to do a fact check from time to time to make sure you don’t forget to focus on the things in life that really matter.
Who inspires you?
There are so many amazing people I have met, read or listened to (I am a big fan of audiobooks) that it’s impossible to name just one. If you would ask me to name one, then I would probably say my dad because he inspired me and he has always supported me to explore the world and follow my passions.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
That in 2015 over 2,000 people died prematurely from complications due to air pollution in Hong Kong and over 40% of children here suffer from rhinitis. That’s a pretty staggering figure but in CN it’s even worse. There is not much one can do as an individual to mitigate outside air pollution but you can achieve a clean indoor air environment in your home or office, for example by practicing source control (only using green / clean building materials and fixtures) and using an air purifier.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. I really don’t regret anything and don’t like to dwell on the past.
How do you unwind?
Running the Hong Kong trail whilst listening to a great audiobook.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Probably Bali. Volcanoes, soaring seaside cliffs, amazing hotels, green rice-terraced valleys, delicious food and gorgeous traditional villages.
Everyone in business should read this book:
As mentioned above ‘How will you measure your life’ by Clayton Christensen.
Shameless plug for your business:
Vivid Living is an interior design / real estate consultancy and property developer focusing on creating healthy living spaces. Vivid believes that personal well-being, health and sustainability should be integral components of every living space. With its ‘Healthy Home & Healthy Office Blueprint’ Vivid brings a focus on health to every aspect of your apartment, house or workplace, creating spaces that optimize well-being and facilitate the healthiest lifestyle possible.
Vivid Living’s medical evidence based concept combines professional air and water purification technologies, sustainable and green building materials, mood lighting and home automation systems, ergonomic and biophilic design as well as tools for optimized nutrition and physical fitness.
How can people connect with you?
Follow Vivid Living on Facebook or drop me an email: [email protected]
Twitter handle?
henning_voss
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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