MOU signals investigative study into built environments

Following a new bilateral innovation and research agreement between Sweden and the UK, (October 13, 2023), a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden and UCL, University College London, will progress exploration into NeuroArchitecture and NeuroDesign: How the human brain interacts with built environments and how understanding this can contribute to the design of sustainable environments that enhance health and well-being.

Carina Carlman, Director of Research and Business Development at RISE, leading the work to establish the scientific field in Sweden, said: “By deepening the understanding of NeuroArchitecture and NeuroDesign, we can identify keys and tools to shape future living environments in a way that supports health and wellbeing.” Addressing these challenges would provide new insights into how conscious design choices can help promote healthier living on a global scale, she added.

The research team aims to investigate how different factors in the built environment relate to one another and affect health and wellbeing, taking a holistic perspective into consideration: “Identifying specific risk- and resilience factors in architecture and design and how these impact cognition, behaviours and emotions, have groundbreaking potential to help shape future living environments and positive outcomes,” added Isabelle Sjövall, Neurodesigner and Brain Researcher at the Institute of Behavioral Neuroscience, UCL.

Prof. Hugo Spiers, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Neuroscience, and Vice Dean of Enterprise & Innovation Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, said: “New UCL facilities for simulating real environments (e.g. UCL PEARL*) and mobile brain recording make it possible for us now to gain a much richer understanding of how the human brain is impacted and supported by the built environment. Working with RISE will enable us to connect these new research tools with innovations in implementation of health and sustainable environments, to improve human health and wellbeing.”

Marco Lucisano, Senior Vice President, Built Environments at RISE, emphasised the benefits of the initiative: "As society's challenges become increasingly complex, more innovators are needed. This new alliance creates a joint force that highlights the importance of leveraging the combined expertise and resources of both nations in research, innovation, and sustainability. Through this joint effort, we can together create a strong force for movement in both research and applied development to address society's complex challenges with new, applicable, innovative methods".

* Person Environment Activity Research Laboratory, London

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