Neuroarchitecture: The Future of Urban Planning and Publi...

A large percentage of today's population live in urban environments that have developed around trade, industry, and vehicles. These places, which include cities like Liverpool, Osaka, New York, and Riyadh, were not designed with human health in mind. As the world's population becomes increasingly urbanized, there has been a concerning increase in health issues such as depression, cancer, and diabetes. This disconnect between humans and their urban habitats is not surprising, given that many cities were not designed with human health and well-being in mind. However, the advent of neuroscientific and neuroarchitectural research methods is providing hard evidence of the impact of urban design on health, leading to a shift in thinking within the construction and building design industries.

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The Historical Disconnect Between Urban Design and Human Health

From the mid-20th century, thinkers like Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl began to critique the inhumane design of cities, characterized by uninspiring buildings, barren spaces, and harsh expressways. Despite their work being widely read, it was largely marginalized as it contradicted mainstream architectural thinking. The lack of hard evidence to support their claims meant they could only rely on isolated case studies and rhetoric.

The Rise of Neuroarchitecture

The recent availability of sophisticated brain-mapping and behavioral study techniques, such as wearable devices that measure our body's response to our surroundings, is making it harder for the construction industry to ignore the impact of urban design on human health. Neuroscientific and neuroarchitectural research methods have moved from the lab to the streets, with pioneering studies being conducted in cities around the world. These studies are investigating people's psychological responses to different building facades and the potential link between building design and health outcomes like neuroinflammation.

The Potential of Neuroarchitecture

The findings from these studies are already informing the work of architects and city planners. For example, NORD Architects used research on cognitive decline to inform the design of their Alzheimer's Village in Dax, France. The village mimics the layout of a medieval fortified town, providing a comfortingly familiar environment for residents with weakened way-finding abilities. The integration of neuro-architectural findings with generative AI models could further revolutionize the field of architecture.

The Future of Urban Planning and Public Health

Progressive city leaders are starting to prioritize human well-being alongside economic growth. As our ability to measure health becomes more sophisticated, more cities are likely to recognize the contribution of building design to public health and human prosperity. In the future, property developers may need to consider neuroscientific findings alongside factors like structural load, energy efficiency, lighting, and acoustics. This shift could not only improve public health but also make our cities more joyful and engaging.