By now, many of us in the design industry have heard about the emerging field of neuroaesthetics. But have you heard about neuroarchitecture? What is neuroarchitecture, and why should the design industry pay attention to it? As the name implies, neuroarchitecture is where neuroscience and architecture intersect. It is an interdisciplinary field where researchers and practitioners explore the relationship between the brain and our surroundings — focusing on how humans interact with built environments. Neuroarchitecture is still a nascent field, so the exact definition continues to evolve.
Some may ask: What does neuroscience have to do with architecture and interior design? If we are designing spaces with people in mind, it has everything to do with what we do as spatial designers. If we are designing spaces or creating products for humans, then we need to understand the science — the brain, body, and mind — of the people we are designing for. We need to put people’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being at the center of everything we create. To design truly human-centered and intentional spaces, we must understand how our built environments can support or hinder human health and wellness. We must also realize the real, measurable impact the design decisions we make have on human experience.
“There is no such thing as a neutral space,” writes architecture critic Sarah Williams Goldhagen in her book ‘Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives.’ Our surroundings impact our health, cognition, and emotion — either positively or negatively. Architecture and interior design are never neutral. If we are in the business of crafting spaces, we must understand human perception and cognition in the environments we create.
As a member of ANFA (Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture), I recently had the pleasure of joining the biennial ANFA conference, “Neuroscience for Architecture: Research in Motion.” It was an inspirational, eye-opening and mind-shifting experience. At ANFA 2025, architects, designers, neuroscientists, educators, researchers and thought leaders came together to explore how neuroscience can shape the future of architecture, design and human experience. While many architects and designers still focus primarily on “what we see,” a small but passionate group of architects, designers and neuroscientists are quietly exploring “what we feel.” Instead of designing for the eye, they are designing for the brain, approaching the built environment from an interdisciplinary, science-backed and human health–focused perspective.
This year’s ANFA conference covered a wide range of topics — brain health, neurodiversity, inclusion, well-being, climate change, collaborative innovation, cognition, technology and AI — under three main themes: Designing for every brain, designing for human flourishing, and designing for a changing world. There was no shortage of knowledge and inspiration, as experts from academia and practice shared the latest research and case studies. Here are a few key highlights and quotes among many insightful and inspirational moments:
ANFA president Margaret Tarampi set the tone by making the concept of neuroarchitecture simple for everyone: “We can all think of spaces that we want to be in, spaces that make us feel good. We can also think of the opposite, spaces that make us feel bad. Neuroarchitecture is studying that, and gathering more evidence, analysis and support to create more of the spaces we want to be in.”
Tarampi also explained the reasons for the recent growth of the field. Technological advancements in neurotech and neuroimaging — such as wearables, headsets, fMRI, eye-tracking and EEG — have made these measuring tools more accessible and affordable. The COVID-19 pandemic and environmental issues like climate change have also increased awareness of how environments affect human health. As a result, society now demands evidence-based spaces across all sectors, from healthcare and education to workplace design. In addition, growing attention to human-centered design and the rise of interdisciplinary collaboration are fueling the exchange of knowledge between science and art, connecting researchers and practitioners. To me, these factors all signal a positive direction toward improving human health and well-being through the built environment.
Architectural neuroimmunology researcher Cleo Valentine and architect Tye Farrow presented frameworks proposing a shift in focus: from distress (chronic illness) to eustress (positive stress for growth); from pathogenesis (preventing disease) to salutogenesis (creating health and resilience); and from “do no harm” (safety and prevention) to human flourishing (environments that cultivate vitality, joy, awe, dignity and belonging). Valentine noted that as creators of the built environment, we are all actively involved in the business of creating health and wellness. By understanding the science and consciously applying evidence-based research in practice, architects and designers can facilitate good health through design and bring meaningful change.
Tye Farrow, author of “Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health,” explored the relationship between what we build and how it can actively promote health. Place attachment explains the importance of creating meaningful person-to-place relationship. Farrow examines continuous interplay between people and their environments, and how each influences the other’s well-being. According to Farrow, space is an effective, non-invasive therapeutic treatment. We can create environments that don’t just shelter us but truly nourish us and make us healthier.
Upali Nanda of HKS pointed out that the art and science of being human in the built environment has never been more important. She captured it perfectly: “We spend so much time thinking about what goes into our body, but we don’t give enough attention to where our body goes into.” She emphasized that “where we are” matters, and as architects and designers, we have a responsibility to pay attention to the stage we set for people. The purpose of neuroarchitecture, she explained, is to “understand the why,” so that the built environment becomes part of scientific study, helping us better understand how spaces affect our body and mind. Nanda invited us to join Project WHY, which explores spaces that evoke three emotions — awe, belonging, and creativity — by analyzing images collected from the public. This research will utilize wearable technology and AI to measure and analyze human responses to different environments. This ambitious co-creation project excites me about the future of the built environment, and I can’t wait to learn from this research and integrate the findings into my own work.
Johns Hopkins University’s Susan Magsamen reminded us that humans have spent 99.8% of our existence outdoors, and only recently began creating built environments. There are norms we blindly accept, like windowless patient rooms or a sea of identical workstations, that don’t make sense for our health and well-being. We must recognize that humans are naturally wired to connect with nature and design spaces that align with our human nature. Magsamen emphasized that the future lies in intentionally designed spaces and places for human flourishing. Through the International Arts and Mind Lab, she leads groundbreaking research on neuroaesthetics and neuroarts, inviting us to join the NeuroArts Blueprint and Intentional Spaces initiatives to advance this field collectively. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we must bridge disciplines, translate research into practice and elevate public awareness through storytelling.
Neurodiversity and inclusion were also central themes of the conference. HOK’s Kay Sargent drew attention to the importance of designing neuroinclusive workplaces. Architect Magda Mostafa and researcher Leanne Chuloskie echoed this message, reminding us that inclusion does not mean one-size-fits-all. They emphasized the need to respect individual differences and create environments where everyone can flourish on their own terms.
Beyond these highlights, many more insightful presentations and discussions took place at ANFA 2025. I believe these topics are vitally relevant to the design industry and the future of the built environment. Without a deeper understanding of the human brain, body and mind — and the impact our spaces have on them — we may unintentionally design beautiful environments that inadvertently cause harm. We must actively bring this research into our design processes to create intentional, healthy spaces supported by evidence and science.
This work is inherently interdisciplinary. Researchers, scientists, practitioners, policymakers and businesses must work together to solve this deeply human challenge. The stakes are high. It’s about our collective health, well-being and long-term survival as a species. We need more evidence-based research confirming that the spaces we create make people healthier, happier and more fulfilled. We need to connect research and practice and apply science to real-world projects. We need more “bridgers” who can connect both fields, and I’d enthusiastically be one of them.
At its core, this work is about creating positive relationships and meaningful connections between people and their environments. Humans and their surroundings are deeply intertwined, constantly influencing one another. Now is the time to understand this mutual impact, and to design with care for our collective health and shared future. Now is the time to design for human flourishing, through the science and art of neuroarchitecture.