What if the places we live and work in could affect more than just our moods — what if they could influence the very health of our brains? This is the question driving Cleo Valentine, Senior Researcher and Innovation Lead at RISE, and PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. Her research sits at the crossroads of architecture, neuroscience, and immunology, in the emerging field of neuroarchitecture.
- In a pilot study I conducted, we examined how biophilic architectural design, which mirrors nature’s shapes and patterns, affects neuroinflammatory activity. Using quantitative EEG, we could watch how the brain responds to different types of buildings, Valentine explains.
At its core, her question is simple but profound: Can architecture that evokes nature reduce inflammation in the brain?
The architecture of stress
Stress is more than a fleeting feeling. When the body senses threat — from a car accident to a confusing hospital corridor — it triggers immune responses. Short-term stress can help, but chronic stress fuels neuroinflammation, linked to depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Dementia alone is expected to affect 152 million people worldwide by 2050, with UK care costs nearly doubling to £47 billion. Understanding all contributing factors, including architecture, is becoming urgent.
Neuroarchitecture, an emerging research field, investigates how buildings affect the nervous system. We already know that architecture can cause stress. Designs incorporating nature, so-called biophilic design, can lower blood pressure and stimulate brain activity linked to relaxation. In contrast, cityscapes dominated by glass and steel skyscrapers are associated with heightened stress responses.
But what happens deeper in the body, in the immune system itself? This was the uncharted territory Valentine set out to explore.
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This is the first time we’ve seen direct neurophysiological evidence that architecture might influence immune responses in the brain
Pilot study findings: A calmer, less inflamed brain from biophilic architecture
To test the hypothesis, ten participants were shown images of two different buildings while monitoring their brain activity with a 32-channel EEG. One building was rich in biophilic features — organic shapes, natural materials, and lighting reminiscent of a forest canopy. The other was more conventional, with few natural cues.
The study focused on two brainwave frequency bands, delta and alpha, previously linked to stress and inflammation.
The results were striking. When participants viewed the biophilic building, relative delta activity decreased, especially in the brain’s frontal and central regions. This pattern suggests reduced neuroinflammatory signaling: in effect, their brains appeared calmer, and less inflamed. Alpha activity, however, did not shift as expected, and some surprising changes emerged in gamma activity, hinting at a possible new marker for stress-related responses.
- This is the first time we’ve seen direct neurophysiological evidence that architecture might influence immune responses in the brain, says Valentine. It opens up a completely new way of thinking about how we design the spaces we live and work in.
Building healthier spaces
Like any pilot study, more research is needed. Even so, the implications are far-reaching. If architecture can calm inflammation in the brain, it could play a role in managing conditions such as anxiety, depression, or even neurodegenerative diseases. Hospitals, schools, and workplaces might one day be designed not just for function and efficiency, but for neurological health.
- This initial study provides promising clues. It suggests that nature-inspired architecture can influence brain inflammation,” says Valentine. While more research is needed, these findings are a good start. They open doors to create buildings that truly support our brain health. By continuing to explore this new area, we can build a healthier world, one space at a time.
Read the full scientific article: Architectural Neuroimmunology: A Pilot Study Examining the Impact of Biophilic Architectural Design on Neuroinflammation.
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