DESIGNING THROUGH THE BRAIN: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Between Architecture and Neuroscience

Abstract

Throughout the course of architecture history, architects have consistently engaged with various disciplines to expand their understanding of how people interact with the surrounding milieu. Since the 20th century, some prominent architects have collaborated with psychologists to gain insights into how design influences behavior and actions, striving to create spaces that truly resonate with people.

In modern times, we spend most of our time in indoor spaces, making it progressively evident that architecture affects our brain and body. Recently, there has been growing attention between architecture and neuroscience. This is a complex field, requiring insights from psychology and cognitive science to understand the indirect connections between brain processes and spatial experience. This conversation starts from a theoretical framework encompassing brain, mind and body. The brain is an engine for behavior and action within a space. Thus the primary objective here is to understand the human brain within the built environment. A deeper awareness of the brain’s intricate processes enhances our comprehension of how we interact with our surroundings. To fully grasp the complexity of this discussion, it is crucial to comprehend the underpinnings of understating the brain. Three essential theories —EvoDevoSocio, Darwin’s theory, and embodied perception— shapes our theoretical and scientific understanding of the brain. This ongoing conversation covers multiple themes, including: sensation and perception, learning and memory, decision making, emotions and affect, movement and more.

This thesis explores the intricate theoretical and scientific connection between architecture and neuroscience, specifically focusing on aspects relevant to architects. Three central themes will be thoroughly studied — emotions, movement, learning and memory — covering both their theoretical foundations and recent scientific discoveries. These findings will be applied in an interdisciplinary design exploration of a community center. These scientific findings will act as “generators” that either evoke emotions, facilitate movement, or foster learning and memory. Thus, the objective of the research is not to develop a theoretical program for architecture, but to apply an interdisciplinary design methodology. Unlike traditional practices, which often rely on architects’ personal experience, this approach is rooted in a scientific understanding of the human brain, allowing architects to design spaces that meaningfully respond to human cognition and behavior.