The urban landscapes we inhabit today, largely shaped by the demands of trade, industry, and automobiles, often prioritize functionality over human well-being. Cities like Liverpool, Osaka, and Riyadh, developed around docks, factories, and sprawling highway systems, exemplify this historical disregard for the impact of urban design on human health. Coinciding with this rapid urbanization is a disturbing surge in mental and physical health issues, including depression, cancer, and diabetes. This disconnect between urban environments and human needs is not a new revelation; visionaries like Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl have long criticized the dehumanizing nature of modern urban planning, highlighting the detrimental effects of monotonous architecture, desolate public spaces, and intrusive expressways.
While Jacobs and Gehl’s critiques resonated with some, their arguments, lacking empirical evidence, were often dismissed by the construction industry, which remained largely entrenched in a conventional and often impersonal aesthetic. Their observations, though rooted in the lived experiences of communities, were perceived as anecdotal and insufficient to challenge prevailing architectural dogma. However, the advent of sophisticated neuroscientific tools and behavioral research methodologies is transforming this landscape. Wearable devices, brain-imaging techniques, and other advancements are providing quantifiable data on the human response to built environments, making it increasingly difficult for the construction industry to ignore the negative impacts of its creations.
This emerging field of “neuroarchitecture” is moving beyond the confines of laboratories and into real-world urban settings. Pioneering studies by Colin Ellard’s Urban Realities Laboratory, the EU-funded eMOTIONAL Cities project in European capitals and Michigan, and research conducted by Sensing Streetscapes in Amsterdam, as well as the Human Architecture and Planning Institute in New York and Washington, D.C., are demonstrating the profound influence of urban design on human psychology and physiology. These studies are providing concrete evidence of the link between the built environment and human well-being, moving beyond the anecdotal observations of earlier urban thinkers.
The impact of these neuro-architectural findings is already being felt within the design world. The Humanize Campaign, in partnership with Colin Ellard, is conducting a global study exploring the psychological effects of building facades, while a parallel study by Cleo Valentine at the University of Cambridge is investigating the potential link between building aesthetics and neuroinflammation. These studies offer the potential to directly correlate specific design elements with measurable health outcomes. Architectural firms, like NORD Architects in their design of the Alzheimer’s Village in Dax, France, are beginning to incorporate these findings into their practice. The village, designed to resemble a medieval fortified town, provides a familiar and navigable environment for residents experiencing cognitive decline.
Though the integration of neuroscientific findings into architectural practice remains relatively nascent, there are promising signs of a paradigm shift within the construction and design industries. The rise of generative AI, now a ubiquitous tool in architecture, offers the potential to further amplify the impact of neuro-architectural research. By integrating these findings into AI models, we can create designs that actively promote human well-being, moving beyond mere aesthetics and functional considerations. This synergy between neuroscience and AI could revolutionize the way we design and build our cities.
Progressive city leaders are also recognizing the intrinsic link between economic prosperity and the well-being of their citizens. Mayors like Rokhsana Fiaz of Newham in East London are incorporating happiness and health as key performance indicators in their economic strategies. As the ability to measure and quantify the impact of urban design on health improves, it is likely that more cities will follow suit. This shift in perspective could lead to a future where neuroscientific data is given the same weight as structural calculations, energy efficiency, and acoustics in building design. This transformation, driven by the desire for healthier and more joyful urban environments, will not only benefit individual well-being but also contribute to the overall prosperity of our cities.
