We spend more than 90 percent of our lives indoors. But what if the very buildings designed to protect us are quietly undermining our health? Emerging research, within the field of neuroarchitecture and neurodesig, suggests that certain architectural features – from narrow hallways to windowless rooms – may trigger subtle but chronic stress responses that, over time, could contribute to serious illness.
The hidden stress from architecture
Scientists have found that specific architectural design elements consistently activate stress responses in our bodies without us even realising it. Room proportions, wall curvature, and window arrangements can all trigger what researchers call neuroimmunological stress responses – essentially putting the body into a state of alert.
Cleo Valentine, Senior Researcher and Innovation Lead at RISE, and PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, has conducted studies within the field and explains the challenge:
- The stress-inducing architectural forms are used liberally within the built environment. Unlike a single stressful event, we're constantly exposed to these architectural stressors in our offices, at schools, and even in our homes.
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If certain architectural features are contributing to chronic disease, this could fundamentally change how we approach building design.
Allostatic overload – The body keeps score
When our stress systems are constantly activated, it leads to "allostatic overload" – essentially, our bodies wear out from being in perpetual fight-or-flight mode. This chronic stress state has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegeneration.
Researchers can now detect this hidden stress by measuring biomarkers such as cortisol, blood pressure, and inflammation levels. But there’s still a crucial missing piece: while architecture clearly triggers physiological stress responses, no study has yet proven that these directly cause long-term disease.
- We need to understand how our built environment affects our wellbeing on a physiological level, Valentine continues. If certain architectural features are contributing to chronic disease, this could fundamentally change how we approach building design. The concern is particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly and children, who may spend nearly all of their time indoors. Office workers, too, are continuously exposed to potentially stressful architectural environments.
Neuroarchitecture and Neurodesign: Evidence-based design for health and wellbeing
Not all architecture triggers stress. Biophilic design – incorporating natural elements – shows measurable stress-reducing effects, with studies revealing higher alpha brain waves indicating relaxation.
- We need to design buildings that actively support human health, Valentine emphasises. This research highlights the importance of evidence-based design that gives wellbeing the same priority as aesthetics and functionality.
Architectural stress and health: A call for long-term studies
The study calls for longitudinal research tracking individuals' exposure to architectural features alongside validated allostatic load biomarkers over time.
- Long-term studies are required to determine whether our built environments are contributing to making us sick, Valentine concludes. If confirmed, the findings could position buildings not just as spaces to live and work in, but as instruments of disease prevention. Given that chronic inflammatory diseases cause three out of five deaths worldwide, further research exploring the relationship between stress-inducing architectural forms and allostatic load is highly recommended.
Read the full scientific article: in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
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