Design Matters: How Neuroscience reveals the impact of built settings on the brain, mind, and body by Eve Edelstein

The built environment exerts a continuous and profound influence on human physiology, psychology, and social interactions. However, architectural practice historically lacks an empirical framework to systematically integrate neuroscientific principles in the design process. Dr. Eve Edelstein will elucidate how the burgeoning field of 'Neuro-Architecture' can measurably enhance design to enhance wellbeing, cognition, performance and health itself. Eve will introduce how her pioneering methodology of Translational Design (Edelstein 2006) bridges this critical gap.  

Research studies and built projects demonstrate the application of her clinical background (National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery), advanced research (PhD, University College London), computational systems (Harvard/MIT Hearing Science Lab), and novel immersive virtual simulations (University California San Diego) inform architectural solutions. Novel wearable 4D-Eye and EEG tracking systems demonstrate how 'AI for Architectural Intelligence' (AI4AI) can go beyond intuition to inform the experience of design.

Applications including 'Neuro-Universal Design' (Teaching Prize at University California Berkeley) have far-reaching implications, and offer actionable strategies for architects, educators, researchers, public health professionals and policy makers to shape a healthier and more responsive built world across all sectors of society.