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Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape...
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Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape Futureproof Inclusive Buildings

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026 | Viewed by 2069

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matteo Zallio

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK
Interests: user experience; inclusive design; human-centered design; neuroarchitecture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marcelo Márcio Soares

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Post Graduation Programs in Design, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil and Federal University of Maranhão, Pernambuco, Brazil
Interests: ergonomics/human factors; human-centred design; usability and user experience; neuroergonomics and neurodesign
Dr. Camelia Chivăran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81010 Caserta, Italy
Interests: multisensory experiences; inclusive design; user–artefact–space interaction; space cognition and perception; intelligent adaptive environments; advanced technologies
Dr. Michal Gath-Morad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK
Interests: BioCognitive Architectural Design; spatial cognition; wayfinding; neuroarchitecture; evidence-based design; human–building interaction; agent-based modeling; psychophysics; virtual reality; responsive environments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite submissions for the Special Issue of Buildings entitled “Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape Futureproof Inclusive Buildings”. This Special Issue explores the integration of neuroscience in architectural design to create environments that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also cognitively and emotionally supportive. As we face evolving challenges in urbanization, inclusivity, and sustainability, neuroarchitecture offers insights into how spaces can positively impact human well-being, behaviour, and performance.

We encourage research that examines the intersection of architectural design, human cognition, and sensory experiences. Submissions may include case studies, empirical research, and innovative design practices that demonstrate how neuroarchitecture can inform the creation of inclusive, adaptable, and futureproof buildings.

Join us in advancing this interdisciplinary approach to shape the next generation of human-centric spaces.

Dr. Matteo Zallio
Prof. Dr. Marcelo Márcio Soares
Dr. Camelia Chivăran
Dr. Michal Gath-Morad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neuroarchitecture
  • human-centric design
  • cognitive-emotional architecture
  • inclusive design
  • environmental psychology
  • multisensory design and technologies
  • indoor environmental quality
  • behavioural impact of architecture
  • neuro-adaptive design and technology
  • well-being in the built environment
  • behavioural design
  • space perception
  • neuroscience in architecture
  • spatial cognition
  • mobile brain/body imaging in architecture
  • human–environment interaction
  • emotional architecture

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6176 KB  
Article
Research on the Configuration and Composition Characteristics of Courtyards in Japanese Independent Residential Works: A Case Study of Projects from 2015 to 2024
by Yanchen Sun, Anzhuo Wang, Keke Zheng and Luyang Li
Buildings 2025, 15(18), 3253; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15183253 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 139
Abstract
Residential courtyards serve as critical mediators between architecture and nature in contemporary high-density urban environments. However, extant scholarship predominantly examines isolated courtyard typologies, lacking comprehensive systemic analysis, while contemporary designs frequently suffer from functional diminishment. This study investigates 72 representative Japanese detached residential [...] Read more.
Residential courtyards serve as critical mediators between architecture and nature in contemporary high-density urban environments. However, extant scholarship predominantly examines isolated courtyard typologies, lacking comprehensive systemic analysis, while contemporary designs frequently suffer from functional diminishment. This study investigates 72 representative Japanese detached residential projects (2015–2024) to systematically analyze spatial configurations, compositional characteristics, and functional interrelationships between courtyards and interior spaces. The methodological framework incorporates typological classification based on spatial positioning and constituent elements, coupled with analytical examination of aperture connections, interpreted through the lens of pattern language theory. Findings reveal a distinct hierarchical organization and a set of recurrent design patterns: front courtyards predominantly employ “partially walkable” surfaces with symbol trees to reconcile circulatory and esthetic functions, establishing a transitional sequence; central courtyards achieve daylight optimization and spatial extension through compact dimensions and non-paved surfaces, creating intimate outdoor rooms; side courtyards demonstrate scale-dependent adaptive strategies for privacy and microclimate regulation. The predominant living room-courtyard interface configuration features “group-planted trees with large openings,” creating vertically stratified visual experiences. This tripartite system translates traditional nature concepts into evidence-based spatial patterns, providing a transferable design matrix and pattern language for human-centered courtyard design in high-density contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape Futureproof Inclusive Buildings)
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22 pages, 2683 KB  
Article
Cognitive Style and Visual Attention in Multimodal Museum Exhibitions: An Eye-Tracking Study on Visitor Experience
by Wenjia Shi, Mengcai Zhou and Kenta Ono
Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2968; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162968 - 21 Aug 2025
Viewed by 597
Abstract
Exhibition design in museum environments serves as a vital mechanism for enhancing cultural engagement, enriching visitor experience, and promoting heritage preservation. Despite the growing number of museums, improvements in exhibition quality remain limited. In this context, understanding exhibition visual content becomes fundamental to [...] Read more.
Exhibition design in museum environments serves as a vital mechanism for enhancing cultural engagement, enriching visitor experience, and promoting heritage preservation. Despite the growing number of museums, improvements in exhibition quality remain limited. In this context, understanding exhibition visual content becomes fundamental to shaping visitor experiences in cultural heritage settings, as it directly influences how individuals perceive, interpret, and engage with displayed information. However, due to individual differences in cognitive processing, standardized visualization strategies may not effectively support all users, potentially resulting in unequal levels of knowledge acquisition and engagement. This study presents a quasi-experimental eye-tracking investigation examining how visualizer–verbalizer (V–V) cognitive styles influence content comprehension in a historical museum context. Participants were classified as visualizers or verbalizers via standardized questionnaires and explored six artifacts displayed through varying information modalities while their eye movements—including fixation durations and transition patterns—were recorded to assess visual processing behavior. The results revealed that participants’ comprehension performance was strongly associated with their visual attention patterns, which differed systematically between visualizers and verbalizers. These differences reflect distinct visual exploration strategies, with cognitive style influencing how individuals allocate attention and process multimodal exhibition content. Eye movement data indicated that visualizers engaged in broader cross-modal integration, whereas verbalizers exhibited more linear, text-oriented strategies. The findings provide empirical evidence for the role of cognitive style in shaping visual behavior and interpretive outcomes in museum environments, underscoring the need for cognitively adaptive exhibition design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape Futureproof Inclusive Buildings)
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