What if the buildings around us are quietly reshaping our minds? RISE researchers have developed a groundbreaking framework proposing that our built environments might fundamentally influence brain function.
- Emerging evidence from the field of neuroarchitecture suggests that the built environment can flood our bodies with stress hormones, says lead researcher Cleo Valentine, Senior Researcher and Innovation Lead at RISE and PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. Poorly designed environments trigger physiological stress responses similar to genuine threats, potentially causing lasting brain changes.
How environments might trigger stress
The framework proposes that chronic exposure to poor design creates "allostatic overload" — chronically overtaxed stress systems. Features like cramped spaces, harsh lighting, and angular designs might trigger the same physiological cascades as genuine threats, potentially altering brain regions critical for memory, emotion, and decision-making.
- This represents a paradigm shift in understanding architecture's relationship to human health, says Valentine. With over 970 million people worldwide living with mental health conditions, we can no longer overlook how physical spaces contribute to these challenges.
Want to know how neuroarchitecture and neurodesign can strengthen your project or your business?
By understanding how environmental factors influence neurophysiological health, architects and designers can create spaces that enhance rather than undermine cognitive performance.
Measuring architectural stress
Research reveals dramatic differences between design elements. Some studies show participants in cramped, poorly lit spaces experienced measurable shrinkage in brain regions crucial for memory and learning.
The framework suggests chronic stress could cause hippocampal shrinkage, amygdala hyperactivity, and reduced neurogenesis. Memory, emotional regulation, and decision-making abilities might deteriorate under constant architectural assault.
- These changes can alter our cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and capacity to form new memories, Valentine explains. The research suggests that architecturally mediated stress might contribute to depression, anxiety, and more severe psychiatric disorders.
Neurosustainable design
The framework points toward evidence-based design principles with measurable brain benefits. Natural daylight, appropriate ceiling heights, and biophilic elements all demonstrate positive impacts.
Co-researcher Isabelle Sjövall, Brain Researcher, and Director of NeuroArchitecture and NeuroDesign at RISE, notes:
- Neurosustainability may promote resilience and support mental health through design, says Sjövall. By understanding how environmental factors influence neurophysiological health, architects and designers can create spaces that enhance rather than undermine cognitive performance.
The theory of neurosustainability was developed by Mohamed Hesham Khalil, a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. This work was coauthored by researcher Heather Mitcheltree, a PHD candidate at the University of Cambridge.
Examples of brain friendly designelements:
- Natural daylight: Improved circadian rhythms and reduced cortisol dysregulation
- Higher ceilings and larger windows: Decreased stress markers across physiological measures
- Flicker-free lighting: Improved cognitive performance and reduced visual discomfort
- Biophilic elements: Reduced prefrontal cortex activity linked to stress and rumination
The researchers advocate for empirical validation of their framework and integration of neurological wellbeing principles into building codes — potentially transforming how we design environments for human flourishing.
Read the full scientific article: Architecturally Mediated Allostasis and Neurosustainability: A Proposed Theoretical Framework for the Impact of the Built Environment on Neurocognitive Health.
Would you like to learn more about neuroarchitecture and neurodesign – and how your organization can benefit from it? Get in contact with us.