Neuro-architecture and neuro-design

With 70 per cent of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, mental ill health is increasing significantly. Urban environments create a complex cognitive load through noise, congestion and constant stimuli. Today, huge sums are spent on urban development without any knowledge of how it affects the people who will live there. Research shows that poorly designed environments can overload the body's stress system and cause changes in brain regions important for memory, emotions and decision-making.

RISE helps you create environments that promote health, well-being and productivity through scientifically based measurements and analyses. Together with University College London, we run the world's first international centre for neuroarchitecture and neurodesign. We develop and apply NDIX (NeuroDesign/NeuroArchitecture Index) – a research-based tool that measures how built environments affect people. Using advanced brain imaging techniques such as fMRI, EEG and biomarkers, we map how design elements affect stress, cognition and recovery. We guide architectural teams throughout the entire project, from concept to finished result, and support municipalities and organisations with strategic guidelines for health-promoting urban development.