Architecture - Neuroscience. Introduction for an interdisciplinary approach of design process

At first sight the disciplines of neuroscience and architecture seem to have little in common. Traditionaly architecture practice is based on observation and intuition rather than scientific evidence and experimental methods, elements that make scientific research in the field of neuroscience. Technological advance in the investigation methods of cerebral processes opens new perspectives in understanding the human response to the build environement. The issue is wheather we can use this data from neuroscience in the design process and the decision making related to the architecture product.

Fred Gage, professor of genetics and neurobiology at Salk Institute, United States, said, during a conference addressed to the architectural community in 2003: “What links have the information about brain research with your domain, of architecture? Architectural environment – the structures that we all live in, areas weher we spend our free time, the buildings we work – all affect our brain and the brain affects our behavior. You are the ones who think these structure. So you are the ones that affect our brains.”

The aim of the study is to investigate the relevance of the dialogue between architecture and neuroscience, to deepen the relationship between the subject and the build environment from the perspective of contemporary architectural practice. The links between these areas should be placed in a broder, philosophical context, and should not be understood as a simple attempt to localize the artistic process in certain brain areas.