Whether you listen to Mozart, Meatloaf, or Bruno Mars, music can have a profound effect on your wellbeing. Many people listen to music to relax, and research shows that doing so provides health benefits such as improved moods, stress reduction, relief of depression symptoms, and physical benefits including lower blood pressure and pain relief, according to information from the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan.
While many consumers are aware of Sonos speakers, the company’s multiroom audio system can be deployed as a design element that’s part of the wellness architecture, says Frank DeFilippis, builder channel lead, for Sonos Americas Professional division.
“A Sonos system supports a healthy lifestyle through positive reflection, stress reduction and nostalgia,” DeFilippis says. “We want builders, contractors and homeowners to know how easy it is to operate a Sonos system and discover new content. Few other things besides music evoke such powerful emotions.”
Wellness benefits from Sonos fit into the plan for the VISION House Asheville, a home designed and under construction by Alair Asheville | Red Tree, a member of Alair Homes, North America’s largest custom home building and renovation franchise. Alair and Green Builder Media are partnering to build the custom home in North Asheville to demonstrate the future of homebuilding with climate-responsive architecture, innovative products and systems, and high-performance building science.
VISION House Asheville is designed around three pillars: wellness architecture, resilience and Value Per Square Foot™, a metric that provides insights for homebuyers and owners about generational sustainability. Value per square foot integrates sustainability, resource efficiency, wellness, comfort, equity and investment into measuring what a home is worth and is a concept generated by trends identified by Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data™ surveys.
When making major home decisions such as buying a new home or investing in remodeling, Green Builder Media’s survey data shows that their highest comfort and wellbeing were second only to the lowest long-term cost.
“Audio systems aren’t just for entertainment,” DeFilippis says. “We’re working with builders and designers to show them how to use Sonos to create an ideal playlist that matches their brand and ideal buyer. In a model home, the system can subtly delight potential buyers and help them imagine living in the home, the same way scent and a color palette can entice them.”
At VISION House Asheville, Sonos will co-exist peacefully with Savant, the company providing lighting control and power management. Combining sound, daylight and artificial light will enable the design team to control the feel of living spaces and enhance wellness.
“The Sonos system will be built-into the walls and ceilings, so the sound will be experienced throughout the property, but not seen. The visible footprint will be minimal,” DeFilippis says. “Since this is a reference example for wellness architecture, content will be carefully selected to support the goals of the design team. Content will include soundscapes, music playlists, traditional radio or your favorite podcast, throughout different times of day.
Podcast streaming has experienced explosive growth in the past few years. In the US, 55% of the population (158 million people) listen to at least one podcast every month, according to Podcast Statistics. VISION House will support podcast playback across multiple rooms, for a seamless listening experience as family and guests move around the space.
Audio systems like Sonos support wellness through integration with daily life, he says.
“You can be woken by gentle sounds instead of a regular alarm and adjust your schedule to your morning pattern,” DeFilippis says. “If you want to listen to local news radio in the kitchen, you can control that with a verbal command, or the system can default to your preferences on a schedule.”
The integrated system is invisible and simple to operate, which he says makes it easier to relax or be entertained.
“Music can trigger nostalgia, which brings cortisol levels down instantly, or it can excite you, triggering a release of dopamine,” DeFilippis says. “The system can be personalized so that multiple people can enjoy themselves in various rooms and listen to different things at the same time.”
At the VISION House Asheville, Sonos will be integrated into the interior and the front outdoor gathering space, which is designed to create community.
“The audio in the front of the house will set the vibe when people come to visit,” DeFilippis says.
Sonos, which was named one of America’s Greenest Companies by Newsweek in 2026, supports sustainability through its focus on using responsible materials, sustainable packaging and increasing energy efficiency at its manufacturing sites.
"Sonos products offer long-term reliability, with 9 out of 10 products manufactured over the past 21 years still in use,” DeFilippis says. “A lot of consumer electronics get replaced every three or four years. One reason our products are so durable is that they are compatible with other products. We found that even when consumers upgrade a Sonos product, they often find another use for it, a gift to a family member or friend.”
Sonos demonstrates environmental commitment through its packaging, which is 100% recyclable and is made from responsibly sourced Forest Stewardship Council kraft paper and recycled materials. In addition, they use post-consumer recycled plastics in Sonos Arc Ultra, their leading sound bar, and replace adhesives with screws wherever possible so their products last longer and can be more easily repaired. The company is working toward carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero by 2040.
“We’re committed to providing value as well as wellness benefits to customers,” DeFilippis says. “Our all-in-one speakers start at $189. If someone buys a three-room set of audio speakers, they work the same way as our integrated systems with an app and voice commands. That means all homeowners, not just luxury homebuyers, can benefit from an audio system.”