Buildings and the Brain

Using scientific methodology, architects and neuroscientists are increasingly collaborating to explore the variety of human experiences that can change with the design of buildings. Does it matter to our brains if a building has lots of curves or lots of sharp angles? As we walk the streets of our cities, what are the effects on our brains of façade design, greenspaces, and street geometry? Sophisticated neuroimaging technologies have made it possible to answer questions like these. Finally, the program will address the special challenges when designing buildings and rooms for individuals suffering from the extreme neurological deficits that are present in dementia, in general, and Alzheimer’s, in particular. Presenters: Margaret Calkins, Board Chair, IDEAS Institute; Eve Edelstein, Research Director, Human Experience and Gadget Labs, Perkins+Will; Justin Hollander, Associate Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy, Tufts University; Frederick Marks, Visiting Scholar and Research Collaborator, Salk Institute for Biological Studies. See also related story