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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Neuroarchitecture: A Guiding Principle for Sustainable and Inclusive Projects
Laureta Fernandes Domingos1,2 and António André Chivanga Barros3
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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2025.07.001
1. Departamento de Arquitetura e Designs de Interiores, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Rua Salvador Allende, Luanda, Angola
2. Instituto Brasileiro de Design de Interiores (IBDI), Avenida Rangel Pestana, 1105, 4º andar, Bairro Brás, São Paulo 03001 000, Brasil
3. Sonangol Research and Development Center (CPD), Rua Rainha Ginga Nº29/31, Luanda, Angola
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sparked a new awareness of fundamental human needs, bringing mental health to the forefront as a global priority. Social isolation and the abrupt shift in daily routines revealed how environments directly impact physical and emotional well-being. In this context, Neuroarchitecture emerged as an innovative solution, applying neuroscience principles to spatial design in order to enhance quality of life. This field studies how elements such as color, lighting, acoustics, layout, and natural features affect the brain and emotions. These parameters guide the creation of spaces that reduce stress, increase productivity, and foster a sense of comfort. Within the scope of biophilic design, strategies such as the use of natural light and the arrangement of areas that encourage social interaction have proven effective. With the rise of remote work and the growing value placed on functional homes, Neuroarchitecture has gained significance, demonstrating that well-designed environments can improve mental health. Businesses, schools, and hospitals have also begun adopting these concepts, creating more welcoming and efficient spaces. Therefore, the pandemic accelerated a transformation in how spaces are inhabited and designed, underscoring that architecture and psychology must go hand in hand. Neuroarchitecture is not just a trend, but a necessity in a world seeking balance between functionality and well-being.
Neuroarchitecture, urban well-being, cognitive environment, biophilic design and sustainable urban planning.
Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture 19 (2025) 309-316
doi: 10.17265/1934-7359/2025.07.001
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