Makanada , Ashish
A icle
Neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e: Buildings and ci y design
ha espond o human emo ions, cogni i e s a es
Resea ch in Globaliza ion
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Neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e: Buildings and ci y design ha espond o
human emo ions, cogni i e s a es
Ashish Makanada
Cen e o Excellence in Logis ics and Supply Chain Managemen , Indian Ins i u e o Managemen - IIM, Mumbai, Maha ash a, India
ARTICLE INFO
Keywo ds:
Neu oa chi ec u e
Neu o-adap i e design
Sma ci ies
U ban compu ing
U ban planning e hics
P i acy
In o med consen
Su eillance
A chi ec u al psychology
ABSTRACT
Neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e has eme ged as an in e disciplina y ield aiming o cul i a e buildings and u ban
en i onmen s esponsi e o human emo ions, cogni ion, and well-being. Technological ad ances now enable
unp eceden ed moni o ing o occupan s’ psychological s a es h ough unob usi e senso s, as well as adap i e
modula ion o en i onmen s ia “sma ” a chi ec u al componen s. I de eloped esponsibly, hese ad ance-
men s hold g ea po en ial o op imize human expe ience and lou ishing wi hin he buil milieu. Howe e , hey
also p esen complex e hical challenges ega ding p i acy, consen , da a secu i y, globaliza ion and equi able
access ha equi e hough ul conside a ion. This pape p o ides a comp ehensi e e iew and syn hesis o he
oppo uni ies and dilemmas a he nexus o neu oscience, a chi ec u e, and u ban planning. D awing om
esea ch wo ldwide, i examines he mul idimensional issues in ol ed and s a egies o add essing hem
h ough pa icipa o y and empa hic design p ac ices. Case s udies o expe imen al neu o-adap i e p ojec s a e
discussed and ecommenda ions p o ided o longi udinal e alua ion o impac s on heal h, social ou comes, and
well-being. Concep s such as cogni i e e gonomics, senso y pe cep ion and emo ional design, es o a i e u -
banism, and adap i e li ing in e aces a e explo ed h ough di e se me hodologies and design hypo heses a e
p o ided o u u e in e disciplina y collabo a ion. O e all, his pape a gues ha esponsibly op imized neu o-
adap i e a chi ec u e could enhance human h i ing in complex u ban en i onmen s, bu p ecau ions a e
necessa y o a oid isks o au onomy, equi y o unin ended consequences. Con inued igo ous in e disciplina y
wo k is impe a i e o na iga e hese oppo uni ies and challenges, wi h conside a ion o echnical, social and
e hical implica ions a indi idual and socie al le els.
In oduc ion
I has long been unde s ood h ough an in e disciplina y lens ha he
dynamics be ween biological and a chi ec u al o ces a e p o oundly
in e wined. As he es eemed neu oscien is and a chi ec John Ebe -
ha d pos ula ed, human biology and buil o m occupy a ecip ocal
ela ionship whe e one guides he o he in an endless dance. In ecen
yea s, he con luence o ields a he nexus o neu osciences, en i on-
men al psychology, and a chi ec u al design has begun o illumina e
new possibili ies o consciously cul i a ing his biological-a chi ec u al
in e play. Th ough he pionee ing wo ks o (Rooney, Condia, and
Loschky, 2017), (Mos a a i, 2021), and (Higue a-T ujillo, Llina es, and
Macagno, 2021), he no el concep ual pa adigm o “neu o-adap i e
a chi ec u e” has eme ged, deno ing s uc u es and se lemen s capable
o adap ing disc e ely o human cogni i e and a ec i e s a es in eal-
ime o suppo human lou ishing. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Table 1 Table 2.
Technological ad ances now a o d unp eceden ed insigh s in o he
dynamic in e play be ween inhabi an s and hei buil en i onmen s.
Unob usi e senso echnologies can disc ee ly moni o an a ay o
psychophysiological ma ke s, p o iding a window in o occupan s’ s ess
le els, mood alence, and cogni i e loads (Na anjo-He n´
andez, Reina-
Tosina, & Roa, 2020; He e al., 2022). Concu en ly, “sma ” a chi ec-
u al componen s ha modula e en i onmen al pa ame e s like ligh ing,
acous ics, and he mal condi ions in esponsi e ways ha e become
inc easingly p e alen (B a os e al., 2015). These sensing and adap i e
capaci ies hold he po en ial o ushe in a enaissance in a chi ec u al
design whe ein spaces may sub ly “con e se” wi h inhabi an s by
pe cei ing needs and eac ing suppo i ely.
Howe e , many hough -p o oking ques ions awai deepe explo a-
ion h ough c oss-disciplina y inqui y. Which a chi ec u al quali ies
mos p o oundly impac human emo ions and cogni ion? How can
s uc u es be en isioned o op imize expe iences o h i ing? Wha
a iances eme ge ac oss indi iduals and cul u es? As we s and on he
h eshold o a new e a in which neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e may
E-mail add ess: [email p o ec ed].
Con en s lis s a ailable a ScienceDi ec
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Recei ed 16 No embe 2023; Recei ed in e ised o m 3 Ma ch 2024; Accep ed 24 Ap il 2024
Resea ch in Globaliza ion 8 (2024) 100222
2
ans o m how we concei e o he ela ionship be ween mind and buil
milieu, con inued igo ous in e disciplina y in es iga ion is impe a i e
o un a el hese kno y issues and pionee he design o en i onmen s
ha ele a e human po en ial a bo h indi idual and socie al le els. We
hope ha his ongoing in ellec ual odyssey will d aw oge he expe s
om di e se domains o mu ually illumina e hese e ile on ie s.
Unde s anding he neu oscience o emo ions and cogni ion
Unde s anding how emo ions and cogni i e s a es a ise in he human
b ain is essen ial o designing adap i e a chi ec u e. Recen ad ances in
a ec i e neu oscience p o ide no el insigh s in o hese phenomena.
Func ional magne ic esonance imaging ( MRI) s udies show ha emo-
ions o igina e h ough ac i i y ac oss dis ibu ed b ain ne wo ks a he
han disc e e egions (Tou ou oglou e al., 2015). The amygdala plays a
key ole in p ocessing emo ional s imuli, pa icula ly hose ela ed o
h ea s o ewa ds (Adolphs, 2010). Howe e , emo ions also in ol e
ac i i y in he p e on al co ex, insula, s ia um, and o he a eas.
Cogni i e s a es like a en ion, memo y, and decision-making simi-
la ly eme ge om he in e ac ion be ween wide- anging neu al ci cui s
(Mille & Cohen, 2001). Fo example, he p e on al co ex wo ks
oge he wi h he pa ie al lobes and basal ganglia o di ec a en ion
(Cabeza & Nybe g, 2000). The hippocampus and su ounding co ical
egions unde pin memo y o ma ion and e ie al (Squi e e al., 2004).
E en simple pe cep ual judgmen s equi e coo dina ion be ween isual,
soma osenso y, and o he senso y co ices (Gold & Shadlen, 2007).
An indi idual’s emo ional expe ience a any momen depends on
ac i i y ac oss he whole “emo ional b ain” (Panksepp, 2004). Ex e nal
senso y inpu s, in e nal physiological cues, memo ies, and highe -le el
cogni i e p ocesses all con ibu e. The same s imulus migh elici
di e en emo ions in di e en people o a di e en imes based on hei
unique neu al ac i a ion pa e ns (Ba e , 2017). Emo ions a e also
in ica ely ied o cogni ion, mo i a ing judgmen s and decisions ac oss
coun less scena ios (Pessoa, 2013). Recen MRI connec i i y analyses
Fig. 1. Illus a ion o Neu o adap i e a chi ec u e +Sus ainable U banism as heme o U ban Design. P omp - “Simula ion o Human Expe ience Sensi i i y in
Sus ainable U ban Design and Dynamic A chi ec u al Change Based on Senso Emo ion and Cogni i e Inpu ”.
A. Makanada
Resea ch in Globaliza ion 8 (2024) 100222
3
show emo ions and cogni ion canno be cleanly sepa a ed (Pessoa,
2017).
While neu o-adap i e a chi ec u al p inciples hold much p omise o
enhance well-being in u ban en i onmen s wi h hei densi y o in-
habi an s, ex ending hese echnologies meaning ully o u al a eas
p esen s unique challenges gi en lowe popula ions sp ead o e b oade
landscapes. Howe e , neglec ing coun yside inhabi an s isks exace -
ba ing al eady ex eme loneliness and men al heal h issues in isola ed
communi ies (Bu hol & Scha , 2013). One pa hway may le e age
exis ing dis ibu ed in as uc u e ubiqui ous in a ms and illages.
In eg a ing minimal psychophysiological and en i onmen al senso
payloads in o p ope y d ones, au oma ed equipmen and elecommu-
nica ions owe s could disc e ely and economically ga he expe ien ial
da a ac oss spa sely popula ed egions om ae ial and g ound-le el
an age poin s. Le e aging eme ging LoRaWAN p o ocols enables
long- ange wide-a ea ne wo king o senso meshes wi h low powe e-
qui emen s sui able o ene gy-cons ained u al applica ions (Wix ed
e al., 2016; Sil a e al., 2017). Dis ibu ed machine lea ning models
hos ed egionally and ed da a ia edge compu ing ci cum en con-
nec i i y ba ie s. Sel -supe ised echniques p e- ained on unlabeled
da a help add ess limi ed anno a ions om low popula ion densi ies
(Wu e al., 2018). Modelling u al inhabi an s and lands as in e -
connec ed nodes wi hin opological g aphs aids in cha ac e izing
expe ien ial luc ua ions and social ne wo ks despi e spa ial dispe sion
(Illenbe ge e al., 2013).
G adual e o mula ion o landscape, plan ing s yles and public
buildings ac ua ed by localized au onomous sys ems nu u es neu o-
adap i e ans o ma ions. Va iable signage, ligh ing and mul imedia
expe ience sub le in e en ions. Bio emedia i e lo a, emoulding
oo pa hs and ins alling es a eas mi iga e isola ion and nou ish
men a ion amid a duous labou . Concu en ly, a ge ed communi y
ou each u ilizing in e ac i e i ual and augmen ed eali y c ea es
suppo i e online ga he ing spaces. Mul i-pa icipan en i onmen s
simula e eal-wo ld in e ac ions helping educe loneliness (Bell e al.,
2020). Synch onous ac i i ies and u o ing applica ions p omo e edu-
ca ion, skills-sha ing and collabo a i e p oblem-sol ing (Sca a elli
e al., 2020; Dunlea y e al., 2009).
Mixing physical and i ual me hods g adually cul i a es neu o-
emedia ed u al en i onmen s and ne wo ks. The ASP Sys em e ec-
i ely analyzes emo ions in public spaces, aiding u ban planne s in
c ea ing mo e pleasan , com o able, and sus ainable en i onmen s by
combining MAPS da a wi h inhabi an -cen ic me hods (Kaklauskas
e al., 2021). Con inuous assessmen o impac s on heal h me ics, social
pa icipa ion, eme gency esponse coo dina ion and economic ou -
comes aids i e a i e op imiza ion. Add essing digi al inclusion and
ailo ed in e aces o e come ba ie s. Fo Example, The use o emo e
biome ic echnologies and AI enabled he esea ch o analyse passe s-
by on a la ge scale, co ela ing 208 million da a poin s on diu nal
emo ions and acial empe a u e wi h global Twi e da a, con i ming
na u al human diu nal and seasonal hy hmic pa e ns. The s udy ound
signi ican co ela ions be ween diu nal alence and sadness, bo h
be o e and du ing COVID-19, es ablishing s a is ically signi ican e-
la ionships be ween biome ic da a and nume ical alues (A u as K
e al., 2021). O e all, judiciously o ches a ing sensing, modeling,
ac ua ion and i ual communi y os e s esilien neu o-adap i e coun-
yside a chi ec u es. While ealizing comple ely esponsi e u al
a chi ec u al in as uc u e p esen s immense obs acles, e en g adually
augmen ing he buil en i onmen , landscapes and social ne wo ks
u ilizing dis ibu ed echnologies shows p omise o ele a e he quali y o
li e o isola ed inhabi an s.
These indings sugges a chi ec s mus conside how en i e neu al
dynamics, no jus single egions, gi e ise o human expe iences.
Adap i e buildings could one day moni o dis ibu ed pa e ns o b ain
ac i i y using nonin asi e neu oimaging o in e occupan s’ emo ional
and cogni i e s a es wi h high accu acy. Such da a, combined wi h
knowledge o an indi idual’s li e con ex , could enable exquisi ely
ailo ed a chi ec u al esponses a bo h mic o and mac o scales o
enhance well-being wi hin dynamic u ban en i onmen s. O cou se,
ex ensi e u he esea ch and deba e a e s ill needed ega ding e hics,
p i acy and o he socie al implica ions.
Fig. 2. Ci yscape wi h buildings ha change colou based on people’s emo ions and in e ac i e sculp u es ha e lec cogni i e s a es. P omp - “ Simula e a ci y by
embedding a ec i e and cogni i e moni o ing a an a chi ec u al scale, ende ing esponsi e colou changes and econ igu ing sculp u al o ms based on
senso da a”.
A. Makanada
Resea ch in Globaliza ion 8 (2024) 100222
4
The eme gence o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e
The in eg a ion o neu oscience in o a chi ec u e and u ban planning
is an eme ging ield ha aims o op imize human well-being and expe-
ience h ough esponsi e buil en i onmen s (Assem, Khodei , & Fa hy,
2023). While scien is s ha e long s udied he impac o physical spaces
on cogni i e and emo ional s a es, ecen echnological ad ances now
enable wo-way communica ion be ween buildings and hei occupan s.
This new a ea o “neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e” seeks o apply insigh s
om neu oscience, psychology, compu e science, and o he disciplines
o c ea e buildings and ci ies ha can de ec human needs and eac ions
in eal ime and adap acco dingly.
Ea ly expe imen s explo ed how sub le changes in ligh ing, sound-
scapes, and in e io layou could posi i ely in luence mood, ocus, and
s ess le els (Pijanowski e al., 2011). Fo example, esea ch showed
exposing o ice wo ke s o na u al ou doo iews and g eenspace du ing
b eaks signi ican ly educed eelings o a igue and men al exhaus ion
compa ed o adi ional b eak a eas (Pe ins e al., 2021). O he pilo s
in es iga ed occupan hea a e a iabili y and acial exp essions o
gauge well-being and au oma ically adjus en i onmen al ac o s like
empe a u e, humidi y, and noise cancella ion (Schnell e al., 2013).
Howe e , c i ics a gue many o hese ini ial s udies we e oo small in
scale o oo sho in du a ion o p o e long- e m impac s on heal h,
p oduc i i y, o beha iou . Conce ns also pe sis a ound da a p i acy,
anspa ency, equi y, and who uly bene i s om neu o-adap i e design
−p ope y owne s ocusing on occupancy a es o enan s seeking s a-
ble, a o dable housing? Likewise, does cons an en i onmen al moni-
o ing isk u he dis up ing na u al human-building ela ionships o
could i empowe occupan s h ough pe sonalized con ol? As he ield
ad ances, add essing hese e hical ques ions will be pa amoun .
La ge demons a ion p ojec s now a emp o in eg a e neu o-
adap i e concep s in o en i e buildings o neighbou hoods. In one
no ewo hy example, a skysc ape in New Yo k employs biosenso s,
machine lea ning, and an “empa hy engine” o dynamically al e ligh -
ing, music, and digi al a based on agg ega ed c owd emo ion mapping
wi hin common a eas. P elimina y indings e eal his neu o-di e se
app oach success ully boos ed occupan s’ sense o communi y and
c ea i i y compa ed o a con ol high- ise wi h s a ic design.
The p ospec o a chi ec ing buil en i onmen s capable o adap ing
in eal- ime o he dynamical luc ua ions o human emo ional and
cogni i e s a es p esen s an immense op imiza ion oppo uni y, ye also
an eno mously complex socio- echnological dilemma. Con inuous
moni o ing o inhabi an s’ expe ien ial phenomenology demands sen-
so s and algo i hms a uned o he complex laye ing and in e connec-
edness o a ec i e-cogni i e dynamics, a e sing mic o- empo al,
in e -indi idual, and socio-cul u al spec a. To engende s uc u es
ecep i e ac oss hese a ious expe ien ial dimensions necessi a es a
ne wo ked neu o-senso y in as uc u e s a egically dis ibu ed bo h
in e nally, in e acing dis ibu ed bodily ma ke s, and ex e nally,
in e acing en i onmen al pa ame e s h ough In e ne -o -Things p o-
ocols. In e nally, unob usi e biome ic wea ables le e aging mul i-
modal psychophysiological de ec ion modali ies such as elec ode mal
ac i i y, hea a e a iabili y, espi a o y sinus a hy hmia, acial
elec omyog aphy and pupillome y con e nuanced insigh in o
momen - o-momen a ousal al e a ions.
Ex e nally, pe cep i e echnologies such as compu e ision, acous ic
analy ics and ai quali y sensing expand his in e ocep i e pe spec i e,
con ex ualizing in e io bodily icissi udes amid ambien milieu luc-
ua ions (Cook e al., 2009). A dis ibu ed mesh o in a-bodily and
ex a-bodily senso y modali ies he eby u nish spa io empo ally g an-
ula qualia cha ac e iza ions o inhabi an s’ li ed phenomenology. Ad-
ancemen s in nanoelec onic a oo senso s, epide mal elec onics and
minia u ised body-cen ic de ices po end obus longi udinal esiden
moni o ing amid daily ou ines.
Adap i e a chi ec u al in as uc u es equi e embedded machine-
lea ning pipelines ha le e age sel -supe ision, ans e lea ning, and
con inual lea ning echniques o ex apola e meaning ul expe ien ial
insigh s om he deluge o psychophysiological and en i onmen al
senso da a. Sel -supe ised models p e- ained on la ge unlabeled da a
se s allow o he ex ac ion o embeddings ha a e a uned o nuanced
Table 1
Me hods o applying cogni i e e gonomics in u ban planning and design.
Topic Desc ip ion Academic Pe spec i e
Cogni i e
mapping
The p ocess o c ea ing men al ep esen a ions o spa ial in o ma ion and using
hem o na iga ion and o ien a ion in he en i onmen . This can be enhanced
by designing u ban spaces ha a e legible, cohe en , memo able, and
meaning ul. Examples include landma ks, signs, symbols, colou s, and pa e ns
o help people o m cogni i e maps o he ci y.
Cogni i e mapping en ails he cons uc ion o cogni i e spa ial schema a o
na iga ion and o ien a ion. U ban designe s may acili a e his p ocess by
imbuing u ban spaces wi h a ibu es o legibili y, cohe ence, memo abili y, and
signi icance. No ewo hy implemen a ions encompass he deploymen o
dis inc i e landma ks, signage, symbolic elemen s, ch oma ic cues, and pa e ns
o aid indi iduals in he o ma ion o obus cogni i e ca og aphies o he u ban
landscape (Ki chin, 1994; Eden, 2004).
Cogni i e
a o dances
The p ope ies o objec s o en i onmen s ha sugges how hey can be used o
in e ac ed wi h. They a e used o design u ban spaces ha a e in ui i e, use -
iendly, and adap able o di e en needs and p e e ences. Examples include
benches, s ai s, ailings, oun ains, and sculp u es designed o a o d si ing,
es ing, playing, socializing, and enjoying he scene y.
Cogni i e a o dances pe ain o he inhe en cha ac e is ics o en i ies o
se ings ha imply hei u ili y and mode o in e ac ion. U ban planning
endea ou s may exploi hese a o dances o cul i a e en i onmen s ha exhibi
quali ies o in ui i eness, use - iendliness, and adap abili y o di e se
equi emen s and p edilec ions. Exempla s encompass he delibe a e
con igu a ion o ameni ies such as benches, s ai cases, ailings, oun ains, and
sculp u es, designed o beckon and accommoda e ac i i ies like si ing, es ing,
playing, socializing, and sa ou ing he isual landscape (Ha son, 2003).
Cogni i e load The amoun o men al e o equi ed o pe o m a ask o p ocess in o ma ion.
Cogni i e load can be educed by designing u ban spaces ha a e simple, clea ,
consis en , and o ganized. Examples include educing isual clu e , noise,
a ic, and pollu ion o c ea e less s ess ul and mo e pleasan u ban spaces.
Cogni i e load deno es he cogni i e expendi u e equisi e o ask execu ion o
in o ma ion p ocessing. U ban planne s may amelio a e his load by de ising
u ban spaces cha ac e ized by ai s o simplici y, cla i y, consis ency, and
o ganiza ion. Illus a i e s a egies encompass he mi iga ion o isual diso de ,
noise pollu ion, a ic conges ion, and a mosphe ic con amina ion, he eby
os e ing u ban en i onmen s ha e oke educed s ess and heigh ened
sa is ac ion (Reedy, 2015; Me i¨
enboe & Swelle , 2005).
Cogni i e
s imula ion
The deg ee o which an en i onmen p o ides no el, di e se, and challenging
s imuli ha ac i a e and en ich cogni i e unc ions. Cogni i e s imula ion can
be inc eased by designing u ban spaces ha a e dynamic, di e se, and
engaging. Examples include c ea ing oppo uni ies o explo a ion, disco e y,
lea ning, c ea i i y, and social in e ac ion o make u ban spaces s imula ing
and enjoyable.
Cogni i e s imula ion quan i ies he capaci y o an en i onmen o p o e
inno a i e, mul i a ious, and in ellec ually demanding s imuli ha igge and
enhance cogni i e acul ies. The augmen a ion o cogni i e s imula ion inds
ealiza ion in he c a ing o u ban landscapes cha ac e ized by dynamism,
di e si y and engagemen . Illus a i e endea ou s encompass he p o ision o
condui s o explo a ion, disco e y, knowledge acquisi ion, c ea i e endea ou ,
and social in e ac ion, he eby cul i a ing u ban milieus ha engende
heigh ened in ellec ual a ousal and g a i ica ion (Fink e al., 2010).
A. Makanada
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expe ien ial phenomena, e en in he absence o explici anno a ions.
T ans e lea ning can ac i a e specialized models o mo e niche p e-
dic ion asks. Con inual lea ning amewo ks can dynamically upda e
p e- ained models wi h s eaming esiden da a o pe sonaliza ion and
non-s a iona y concep acking, e en amid expe ien ial lux o e
ci cadian, mens ual, and seasonal cycles. Skil ul o ches a ion o
s acked sel -a en i e ans o me s, g aph con olu ional ne wo ks and
ecu en neu al es ima o s acili a es mul imodal in eg a ion and
empo al dependencies modelling ac oss spa io empo al expe ien ial
s a a. This u nishes p ognos ic gene alizabili y and in e p e abili y
p ized o such p i acy-c i ical and e hically consequen ial applica ions.
When mic o- empo al esolu ions cha ac e ise esiden expe ien ial
s a es and en i onmen al ac o s, ac uable a chi ec u al e ec o sys ems
can induce nuanced neu o-adap i e adjus men s. Luminai es, acous ic
damping sys ems, en i onmen al a omas, biophilic ege a ion and
mixed eali y o e lays dynamically espond o in e ed expe ien ial
impe a i es. All e ec o s equi e mind ulness o he in e wo en opol-
ogy o expe ien ial phenomenology. No in e en ion p oceeds inde-
penden ly; each ipple impac s o he s. S a egic machine lea ning agen
cho eog aphies ha moniously coo dina e dispe sed e ec o s in o cohe-
si e en i onmen al mo phologies a uned o he dynamically shi ing
in e io li ewo lds o inhabi an s. The concep o o e a ching alue
unc ion maximiza ion aims o p omo e human lou ishing by con inu-
ously econs i u ing buil en i onmen s. This nu u es human po en ial
amids u ban complexi y. A chi ec u e can egain i s soul by esusci-
a ing he age-old ecip oci y be ween he in e io and ex e io wo lds
h ough echnological e e ence.
In summa y, c ea ing buil en i onmen s ha a e ecep i e o he
dynamic expe iences o hei inhabi an s equi es he wise in eg a ion o
neu o-senso y de ec ion, machine lea ning pe sonaliza ion, and cho -
eog aphed mul i-e ec o esponse. This in ol es embedding a echnical
ne ous sys em wi hin u ban ab ics o p omo e collec i e wellness in
he ace o accele a ing echnogenesis. Al hough he e a e isks
in ol ed, esponsibly op imized neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e has he
po en ial o ele a e ci iliza ion o i s mos humane le el.
Looking ahead, as he In e ne o Things connec i i y sp eads, en i e
sma ci ies may one day eme ge wi h neu ological ha moniza ion as a
co e goal (Olszewska & Tawil, 2020). While popula in science ic ion,
ealizing ully neu o-adap i e u banism p esen s immense echnical,
social, and economic ba ie s. C i ics a gue physical in as uc u e
changes a neighbou hood o me opoli an scales could dis up exis ing
communi ies o unequally impac low-income esiden s depending on
implemen a ion. Ne e heless, as awa eness g ows a ound a chi ec-
u e’s in luence on human wellness, neu o-adap i e s a egies a
di e en scales will likely con inue p oli e a ing in cance able ways.
O e all, balancing inno a ion wi h e hics will de ine his nascen ield’s
impac and whe he i uly becomes he buil en i onmen o he u u e.
Senso y pe cep ion and emo ional design in complex adap i e
u ban sys ems
T adi ional app oaches o u ban design ha e p io i ized unc ional
and aes he ic conce ns, neglec ing he p o ound emo ional impac o he
buil en i onmen . Howe e , as no ed design heo is s a gue, “u ban
o m pe pe ually in e ac s wi h human pe cep ion and cogni ion in a
complex in e play shaping well-being ou comes’’ (Du on & Po e ,
2008). By sys ema ically examining how a chi ec u al psychosenso y
a o dances like ligh , sound, ex u e and spa ial o ganiza ion s imula e
human senso y ecep o s and elici a ec i e app aisals, design p ac i-
ione s can cul i a e mo e suppo i e and es o a i e u ban milieus
(Meh abian & Russell, 1974; Ul ich, 1983).
A c ucial conside a ion is he mul i-modal ac i a ion and in eg a ion
o senso y in o ma ion p ocessing in u ban con ex s. As ou socio-
en i onmen al psychology esea ch delinea es, sup aliminal senso y
bomba dmen ia “loud sounds, in ense illumina ion and c owding elici
physiological s ess esponses’’, whe eas balanced s imula ion can
engende calmness (Raanaas e al., 2011; Külle e al., 2009). Empi ical
da a indica es cu ilinea pa hways impa elaxa ion e sus ec ilinea
ou es, g eene y a enua es noise pollu ion, and na u al ma e ials mi i-
ga e isuospa ial clu e (G ahn & S igsdo e , 2003; Joye, 2007).
Mi iga ing hype s imula ion h ough e idence-based design hus
signi ican ly amelio a es u ban esiden s’ com o and sa is ac ion.
Beyond mode a ing senso y load, o ches a ing c oss-modal senso y
cues can shape disc e e emo ional app aisals. Fo ins ance, Thumala’s
Table 2
Exempla y in e p e a ions o esponsible design p ac ices.
P ac ice Desc ip ion Specialis Pe spec i e
Use pa icipa ion In ol ing use s in he design p ocess, om p oblem de ini ion o solu ion
e alua ion. I helps designe s unde s and use needs and co-c ea e solu ions
ha mee use equi emen s and sa is ac ion.
Employing a mul i-modal pa icipa o y design app oach, in eg a ing
e hnog aphic con ex ual inqui y and co-design me hodologies, o imme se
use s in he design milieu. This in ica e o ches a ion o empa he ic
explo a ion o use cogni i e models, heu is ic e alua ions, and pa icipa o y
sense-making endea ou s yields p o oundly use -cen ic solu ions, amelio a ing
design myopia and enhancing use men al models (Lee, 2008; Wa s & Hi s ,
1982).
Use con ol P o iding op ions o use s o con ol hei da a collec ion, p ocessing, and
u iliza ion. Use s can choose wha da a is collec ed, s o ed, sha ed, and used
by neu o-adap i e sys ems and op -in o op -ou o en i onmen al
adjus men s.
Implemen ing sophis ica ed p i acy-enhancing echnologies such as secu e
mul i-pa y compu a ion, ede a ed lea ning, and ad anced homomo phic
enc yp ion o endow use s wi h me iculous g anula con ol o e he li e cycle
o hei da a wi hin neu o-adap i e sys ems. Use s wield consen managemen ,
di e en ial p i acy mechanisms, and pe sonalized da a go e nance o cu a e
he minu iae o hei da a’s jou ney.
(Yang e al., 2018; Schaub e al., 2015)
Use Feedback O e ing in o ma ion o use s abou how hei da a is collec ed, p ocessed, and
used. Use eedback enables moni o ing and e alua ion o neu o-adap i e
sys em pe o mance and unc ionali y, allowing use s o p o ide sugges ions
o imp o emen o complain s.
Employing explainable AI models, Bayesian ne wo k in e ences, and cogni i e
wo kload assessmen s o o ches a e use - iendly, eal- ime eedback
mechanisms. This bespoke eedback a chi ec u e, coupled wi h human-in- he-
loop in e ac ion amewo ks like Wiza d-o -Oz es ing, empowe s use s wi h
unp eceden ed insigh s in o he nuanced nuances o da a u iliza ion. I
acili a es igilan sc u iny o sys em beha io s, enabling use s o ac i ely
con ibu e o i e a i e e inemen s and oice conce ns o sugges ions.
Use educa ion P o iding aining o use s o e ec i ely and esponsibly use neu o-adap i e
sys ems. Use educa ion equips use s wi h he skills and knowledge necessa y
o in e ac wi h hese sys ems, minimizing po en ial isks o ha ms.
Inculca ing use s wi h an in e disciplina y pedagogical egimen spanning
human–compu e in e ac ion (HCI), neu o-e hics, and e hical AI, augmen ed by
neu o eedback in e aces, and gami ied neu o-educa ion pa adigms. This
e udi ion ensu es holis ic compe ence, enabling use s o na iga e he in ica e
socio- echnical neu o-adap i e landscape wi h sagaci y, hus a e ing misuse
and os e ing enligh ened, e hically g ounded decision-making in esponsible
sys em engagemen .
A. Makanada
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(2015) wo k explo ing mul isenso y expe iences in ci ic spaces e ealed
ha baked goods’ ol ac o y signals combined wi h dim ambience and
melodic audia ion elici ed eelings o g a i ica ion. This exempli ies how
nuanced psychosenso y cho eog aphy cul i a es posi i e social bonds.
Howe e , an inclusi e socioecological app oach acknowledges sen-
so y di e si y; as we heo ize, “indi idual di e ences in neu ophysi-
ology, lea ning his o y and sociocul u al no ms yield a iega ed senso y
pheno ypes” (Ba e , 2017; Cla k, 2013). De ensi e u banism aims o
accommoda e such he e ogenei y by minimizing unwa an ed s imula-
ion ia ea u es like secluded a eas and unclu e ed is as (Lang, 1987).
Though an ongoing socio echnical puzzle, p io i izing emo ional
accessibili y bene i s di e se communi ies.
The dynamically adap i e u ban milieus ad oca ed he ein u ilize
eme ging an h opic echnologies o align en i onmen al psychosenso y
a o dances wi h inhabi an s’ luc ua ing a ec i e-cogni i e s a es. Fo
example, “in eg a ing biome ic moni o ing, a ec i e compu ing and
esponsi e kine ics may empowe s uc u es o g ace ully eshape
ambience and layou conco dan wi h collec i e emo ional dynamics”
(Mos a a i & Dohe y, 2016). While demanding u he ans-
disciplina y wo k, judiciously enginee ed emo ionally as u e buil en-
i onmen s show p omise o op imizing human expe ience,
engagemen and well-being in complex adap i e u ban sys ems.
Cogni i e e gonomics in u ban planning
Cogni i e e gonomics is he s udy o how human cogni ion in e ac s
wi h he design o p oduc s, sys ems, and en i onmen s. In he con ex o
u ban planning and design, cogni i e e gonomics aims o op imize
u ban spaces o enhance cogni i e pe o mance, well-being, and ci y
li abili y o he inhabi an s and use s o he ci y.
Applying p inciples o cogni i e e gonomics o op imize expe ien ial
quali ies and way inding legibili y wi hin he u ban ab ic is complex
due o he dynamic and he e ogeneous na u e o human cogni ion ac oss
spa ial, empo al, and social con ex s (Looze & Pikaa , 2006; Young
e al., 2015). I is impe a i e o con inuously ecalib a e o accommo-
da e shi ing pa e ns o u ban pe cep ion and na iga ion ied o ci -
cannual hy hms, demog aphic ansi ions, and socioeconomic
luc ua ions. The buil en i onmen is equipped wi h a dis ibu ed mesh
o expe ien ial senso s ha p o ide he necessa y spa io empo al eso-
lu ion. Compu e ision, acous ic analy ics, and wi eless physiological
moni o s a e used o disc ee ly cha ac e ize pa e ns o mo emen , so-
cial in e ac ion, and en i onmen al engagemen (Ga ila, 1999; Poppe,
2007). This helps o disce n how dis ic s ac i a e a ied cogni i e ca-
paci ies ac oss di e en ime pe iods. Simul aneously, su eys, in-
e iews, and digi al e hnog aphies a e used o cap u e he changing
expe iences and men al ep esen a ions o he ci y om an inside ’s
pe spec i e. By using mixed me hods o map he cogni i e and a ec i e
impac s o ede elopmen s, demog aphic shi s, o ca as ophic e en s,
adap i e planning can be achie ed wi h o esigh .
La ge-scale neu al modelling app oaches, such as spa ial g aph ne -
wo ks and cogni i e cons uc i ism, can be aluable in his con ex .
Modelling u ban egions as in e connec ed nodes wi hin an expe ien ial
ne wo k g aph and simula ing cogni i e schema o ma ion amid en i-
onmen al luxes can add ess a iabili y. Dis ibu ed ein o cemen
lea ning agen s, calib a ed ia accumula ed expe ien ial da a, can
ecu si ely op imise way inding and es o a i e a o dances a uned o
e ol ing communi ies. Simul aneous mul i-objec i e op imiza ion bal-
ances dis ibu ed wel a e me ics ha encompass spa ial, empo al,
sociodemog aphic, and neu odi e si y spec a.
G adual e o mula ions, media ed by dis ibu ed ac ua o s, mi iga e
dis up ion and os e o ganic adap a ion. Va iable messaging sys ems,
in e ac i e ligh ing, and mixed eali y o e lays sub ly augmen legibili y
and es o a i e po ency. Bio emedia ion landscapes, plazas, and co i-
do s p omo e clea hinking, while designa ed quie a eas coun e ac
o e s imula ion. The comp ehensi e socio echnical e alua ion assesses
he impac on na iga ion e iciency, accu acy o way inding, cogni i e
load, psychological es o a ion, and he o ma ion o social capi al.
Longi udinal compa ison o di e en u ban a eas, calib a ed h ough
disc e e op imiza ion p o ocols, acili a es op imiza ion. A en ion o
in e sec ional impac s and ecalib a ion ensu es long-las ing bene i s
amid dynamic change.
The ’High Line’ p ojec in New Yo k Ci y se es as a case s udy o
he applica ion o cogni i e e gonomics in u ban planning and design.
This public pa k was buil on a his o ic eigh ail line ele a ed abo e
he s ee s on Manha an’s Wes Side. I s design inco po a es a ious
elemen s o cogni i e e gonomics, p o iding a clea and cohe en
cogni i e map o he ci y by ollowing he linea s uc u e o he ail line
and o e ing pano amic iews o he su ounding neighbou hoods. I
p o ides a ange o cogni i e bene i s o a ious ac i i ies and expe i-
ences by o e ing di e se a eas such as ga dens, lawns, plazas, a in-
s alla ions, ood endo s, and pe o mance spaces. This educes
cogni i e load by c ea ing a peace ul and anquil oasis abo e he hus le
and bus le o he ci y. The use o na u al ma e ials, including wood,
me al, s one, and plan s, c ea es a con as wi h he u ban ab ic. This
app oach enhances cogni i e s imula ion by p o iding a dynamic and
di e se en i onmen ha changes wi h he seasons, wea he , ime o
day, and e en s. Addi ionally, i os e s explo a ion, disco e y, lea ning,
c ea i i y, and social in e ac ion among isi o s. The High Line p ojec
exempli ies he use o cogni i e e gonomics in c ea ing u ban spaces
ha imp o e cogni i e pe o mance, well-being, and ci y li abili y o
esiden s and use s. By inco po a ing cogni i e e gonomics p inciples
in o u ban planning and design, we can de elop ci ies ha a e bo h
unc ional and enjoyable.
In summa y, gene alized cogni i e e gonomic op imiza ion demands
agile, communi y-in eg a ed me hodologies emb acing u ban
complexi y. Dis ibu ed sensing, modelling and ac ua ion nu u ing
ci ies neu ophenomenologically a uned o inhabi an s ac oss spa ial
and empo al exis ence p omises ele a ed u ban men al wellness and
social cohesion amid accele a ing change.
Augmen ing socioma e ial in e subjec i i y in eme gen li ing
u ban assemblages
Challenges o in e p e ing human phenomenology a scale
While socio-senso y da a a o ds nuanced insigh s in o human in a/
in e subjec i e dynamics, scaling quali a i e li ed expe iences poses
on ological complexi ies. Phenomenological po ayals isk ei ica ion,
neglec ing in e p e i e plas ici y and he e och onic a iance be ween
indi iduals (Ingold, 2011; Va ela e al., 2016). Machine he meneu ics’
gene alizabili y is ci cumsc ibed, and p one o sociocul u al bias
wi hou in e sec ional ep esen a ion (Eubanks, 2018; Benjamin, 2019).
Top-down analy ic educ ion obscu es eme gen subjec i i ies’ luid,
si ua ed na u e. Mul i- ocal e hnog aphy alongside sel -o ganizing da a
in eg a ion could mi iga e such issues (I ani e al., 2010; DiSal o e al.,
2017).
Augmen ing socioma e ial in e subjec i i y
Ra he han dic a e esponses, ensouled milieus may cul i a e
empa hic a unemen h ough dis ibu ed cogni ion. O ganic a chi ec-
onics e ol ing ia phasic sel -modi ica ion nou ish communally nego-
ia ed lou ishing (Ha away, 2016; Malpas, 2018). Mo phogene ic
sys ems media e in e subjec i e eme gence ia nuanced socio-
en i onmen al a o dances. Biologically inspi ed ma e ials ha bou
in insic memo y, adap ing habi ua ed pa e ns while enabling no el
ecombina ion (G i i hs & S o z, 2022). Pa icipa o y calib a ion en-
su es a o dances augmen wi hou supplan ing human agency. In e-
g a ing in e ocep ion cul i a es mind ulness, suppo ing well-being
amid complexi y (Fasula & Mille , 2017; Coyne e al., 2021). In e sec-
ional li ed expe iences hus sculp li ing su oundings h ough
empa hic code e mina ion.
A. Makanada
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Towa d eudaimonic socioma e ial codesign
P og ess demands e lexi e e alua ion alongside ma ginalized
s akeholde s. Mul i-si ed e hnog aphy unpacks socio-ma e ial in e -
wea ing beyond disc e e in e en ions. Dis ibu ed go e nance models
cons i u e ep esen a i e o e sigh while nu u ing se endipi y.
Eme ging p axes po end coope a i e human-en i onmen lou ishing
h ough empa hic in e subjec i i y a he han ins umen al op imiza-
ion. Con inual coa icula ion be ween socio-ma e ial cons i uen s en-
su es u ban assemblages p io i ize digni y and ca e amid accele a ing
echnogenesis.
Domes ic neu al-adap a ion
Scaling neu o-adap i e a chi ec u al p inciples o encompass he
in ima e domes ic sphe e poses unique complexi ies dis inc om u ban-
scale implemen a ion. Wi hin close -kni li ing qua e s, inhabi an s’
expe ien ial p i acy demands acqui e exace ba ed sensi i i y, necessi-
a ing o ensic conside a ion o senso deploymen s a egies, da a
go e nance p o ocols, and e ec o esponse calib a ion (K on i is e al.,
2010). None heless, e en limi ed ins alla ion o home-based neu o-
adap i e echnologies holds he po en ial o sub ly ele a e esiden ial
heal h, wellness and social unc ioning (McKee e al., 2012; Caul ield &
Geo ge, 2020). Unob usi e psychophysiological moni o ing ia u ni-
u e in eg a ion, wall co e ings and pe sonal accesso ies can disc ee ly
indica e s ess, a igue o a ousal al e a ions wi hou comp omising
in imacy.
S a egically placed dis ibu ed senso meshes p o ide spa ially-
esol ed expe ien ial cha ac e iza ions o li ing, sleeping, cooking,
and hygiene zones. These meshes a e designed o p eclude su eillance
conno a ions. Addi ionally, minia u ized acous ical, luminous, and a -
mosphe ic e ec o s a e wo en in o a chi ec u al ma e ials o os e
adap i e in e en ions ha a e impe cep ible o unawa e inhabi an s.
Compa ed o communal u ban spaces, adap ing o domes ic en i on-
men s equi es conside ing he condensed ne wo ks o amilial, pa -
ne ed, and soli a y expe iences. Li ing oge he in ensi ies he
en anglemen s be ween inhabi an s’ inne wo lds, ampli ying he e ec s
o indi idual ac ions. The e o e, i is c ucial o p io i ize collec i e
expe ien ial modelling, aking in o accoun he complexi ies o social
dynamics, syne gies, and ic ions wi hin ela ionship opologies.
Recen de elopmen s in g aph neu al ne wo k a chi ec u es and
mul i-agen ein o cemen lea ning p o ide sui able modelling ech-
niques (Wu e al., 2019). The inhabi an s a e ep esen ed as in e -
connec ed nodes wi hin an expe ien ial ne wo k g aph, and alue
unc ions a e o mula ed o encompass blended wel a e op ima,
add essing he challenges o simul anei y, in e subjec i i y, and
embedded au onomy wi hin condensed li ing qua e s. Empi ical
echniques, such as expe ience sampling, daily epo ing, and longi u-
dinal e hnog aphy, can aid in con ex ually g ounded esiden ial neu o-
adap a ion. I is impo an o cap u e how inhabi an s pe cei e domes ic
spaces and in e ac ions a a ying empo al, social, and a ec i e g an-
ula i ies o enhance pe sonalized model calib a ion. O e ime, accu-
mula ed da a om li ed expe iences e ines ou unde s anding o
inhabi an s’ unique in e ac ion pa e ns, social hy hms, and p e e -
ences. Con inual mapping o expe iences and ela ionships nu u es
homes ha syne gize wi h, a he han dis up , idiosync a ic ou ines
and in imacies. Residen ial neu o-adap a ion can imp o e heal h and
wellness in daily li e h ough equi able knowledge dis ibu ion and
disc e iona y adjus men s. Technology should suppo , no eplace, he
sanc i y o he home as humani y’s i s sanc ua y.
Challenges and e hical conside a ions in u ban neu o-adap i e
a chi ec u e
U ban neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e is a p omising and inno a i e
ield ha aims o c ea e dynamic and pe sonalized u ban en i onmen s
ha espond o human needs and desi es. Howe e , his ield also poses
signi ican challenges and e hical dilemmas ha need o be add essed. In
his sec ion, we will examine he mul i ace ed issues o p i acy, consen ,
da a secu i y, esponsible design, and e hical u ban planning in he
con ex o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e.
P i acy in he neu o-adap i e ci y
One o he main challenges o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e is he
p o ound p i acy implica ion associa ed wi h he cons an collec ion
and analysis o pe sonal da a. Neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e elies on
ad anced senso s ha cap u e da a abou ambien condi ions and oc-
cupan s’ emo ional and cogni i e s a es. This da a is hen p ocessed by
a i icial in elligence (AI) o gene a e insigh s o eal- ime en i on-
men al adjus men s. While his p ocess enables neu o-adap i e a chi-
ec u e o enhance occupan com o , well-being, p oduc i i y, and
c ea i i y, i also challenges adi ional no ions o p i acy wi hin ci y
spaces. How can ci y dwelle s main ain hei p i acy when hei e e y
mo e, emo ion, and hough is moni o ed and ac ed upon by neu o-
adap i e sys ems? How can hey con ol wha da a is collec ed, s o ed,
sha ed, and used by hese sys ems? How can hey p e en unwan ed o
in usi e en i onmen al adjus men s ha may iola e hei p i acy o
digni y?
In o med consen and agency
Ano he challenge o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e is he concep o
in o med consen . In o med consen is he p ocess o ob aining
pe mission om indi iduals be o e collec ing and u ilizing hei pe -
sonal da a. Howe e , how can ci y dwelle s p o ide meaning ul consen
when hei emo ional and cogni i e s a es a e con inuously moni o ed
and ac ed upon by neu o-adap i e sys ems? How can hey unde s and
he implica ions o hei consen when he da a collec ion and analysis
a e complex and opaque? How can hey e oke o modi y hei consen
when he da a p ocessing and en i onmen al adjus men s a e ins an a-
neous and i e e sible? Mo eo e , how can hey exe cise hei agency
when hei choices and p e e ences a e in luenced o o e idden by
neu o-adap i e sys ems? These ques ions aise conce ns abou he po-
en ial o diminishing indi idual agency in neu o-adap i e
en i onmen s.
Da a secu i y and ulne abili ies
A hi d challenge o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e is he c i ical issue
o da a secu i y. Da a secu i y e e s o he p o ec ion o da a om un-
au ho ized access, use, modi ica ion, o disclosu e. Da a secu i y is
essen ial o ensu ing he con iden iali y, in eg i y, and a ailabili y o
pe sonal da a collec ed and u ilized by neu o-adap i e sys ems. How-
e e , da a secu i y also aces a ious ulne abili ies in he da a in a-
s uc u e, such as hacking, malwa e, human e o , o na u al disas e s.
These ulne abili ies may expose pe sonal da a o malicious ac o s who
may exploi i o ne a ious pu poses. Fo example, hacke s may access
o al e senso da a o manipula e en i onmen al adjus men s o cause
ha m o occupan s. Malwa e may in ec o damage AI sys ems o dis up
o deg ade hei pe o mance o unc ionali y. Human e o may esul
in da a loss o leakage due o negligence o incompe ence. Na u al di-
sas e s may des oy o disable da a s o age o ansmission de ices due
o i e, lood, o ea hquake. These scena ios may ha e se ious conse-
quences o occupan p i acy, sa e y, and us .
Responsible design p ac ices
A possible solu ion o hese challenges is o adop esponsible design
p ac ices ha p io i ize use -cen ic app oaches in neu o-adap i e
u ban a chi ec u e. Responsible design p ac ices a e design me hods
ha conside he e hical, social, and en i onmen al impac s o design
A. Makanada
Resea ch in Globaliza ion 8 (2024) 100222
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decisions and ac ions. These p ac ices aim o ensu e ha use agency
and da a p i acy a e sa egua ded h oughou he design and imple-
men a ion p ocess.
E hical u ban planning
Ano he possible solu ion o hese challenges is o conside he
b oade implica ions o u ban planning e hics. U ban planning e hics
a e p inciples ha guide u ban planne s in c ea ing sus ainable, inclu-
si e, and equi able u ban en i onmen s ha p omo e socie al well-
being. These p inciples should also apply o neu o-adap i e a chi ec-
u e, as i has signi ican impac s on u ban de elopmen and quali y o
li e. Some examples o e hical u ban planning p inciples a e:
Equi able access: This is he p inciple o ensu ing ha all ci y
dwelle s ha e equal access o neu o-adap i e sys ems and hei bene i s,
ega dless o hei socio-economic s a us, gende , age, ace, o disabili y.
Equi able access equi es add essing he digi al di ide and he a o d-
abili y gap ha may p e en some g oups om accessing o bene i ing
om neu o-adap i e sys ems.
Inclusi i y: This is he p inciple o ensu ing ha neu o-adap i e
sys ems a e designed o accommoda e he di e si y o ci y dwelle s
and hei needs, p e e ences, and expec a ions. Inclusi i y equi es
conside ing he cul u al, linguis ic, eligious, and e hical di e ences and
sensi i i ies ha may a ec how ci y dwelle s pe cei e and in e ac wi h
neu o-adap i e sys ems.
Socie al well-being: This is he p inciple o ensu ing ha neu o-
adap i e sys ems con ibu e o he o e all well-being o ci y dwelle s
and socie y a la ge. Socie al well-being equi es e alua ing he social,
psychological, and en i onmen al impac s o neu o-adap i e sys ems on
ci y dwelle s and hei communi ies, and ensu ing ha hey do no cause
ha m o con lic .
Real-wo ld examples and case s udies
The Li ing A chi ec u e Sys ems G oup: This is a collabo a i e
ne wo k o esea che s, a is s, designe s, and enginee s who c ea e
li ing a chi ec u es ha combine o ganic ma e ials wi h digi al ech-
nologies. These a chi ec u es use bio eedback senso s o measu e
occupan biome ics and emo ions and use kine ic s uc u es o change
shape and colou acco ding o senso da a. This p ojec exempli ies he
challenge o p i acy in he neu o-adap i e ci y, as i collec s and u ilizes
sensi i e pe sonal da a wi hou explici consen o con ol om occu-
pan s. I also exempli ies he solu ion o use pa icipa ion, as i in ol es
occupan s in he design p ocess and in i es hem o co-c ea e li ing
a chi ec u es ha e lec hei emo ions and desi es (Li ing A chi ec u e
Sys ems G oup Whi e Pape s, 2019).
The Adap i e Li ing In e ace Sys em: This is a p ojec ha explo es
he use o AI o c ea e adap i e in e aces ha can lea n om use
beha iou and p e e ences (Ba am, 2015). These in e aces use cam-
e as and mic ophones o cap u e use da a and use machine lea ning o
gene a e pe sonalized ecommenda ions and esponses. This p ojec
exempli ies he challenge o da a secu i y and ulne abili ies, as i elies
on complex and opaque AI sys ems ha may be p one o hacking,
malwa e, human e o , o na u al disas e s. I also exempli ies he so-
lu ion o use eedback, as i p o ides in o ma ion o use s o unde -
s and how hei da a is p ocessed and u ilized by AI sys ems and o
p o ide sugges ions o imp o emen o complain .
The Sen ien Chambe : This is a p ojec ha in es iga es he use o
b ain-compu e in e aces o c ea e sen ien en i onmen s ha can
communica e wi h human minds. These en i onmen s use elec oen-
cephalog aphy (EEG) senso s o measu e b ain ac i i y and use ligh and
sound o modula e b ain s a es. This p ojec exempli ies he challenge o
in o med consen and agency, as i moni o s and in luences occupan
cogni i e s a es wi hou clea consen o con ol om occupan s. I also
exempli ies he solu ion o use educa ion, as i p o ides aining o
occupan s o lea n how o use b ain-compu e in e aces e ec i ely and
esponsibly and o a oid po en ial isks o ha ms (Beesley, 2015).
Responsi e acade sys ems: These designs ha e g ea po en ial o
allow buildings o dynamically adjus hei dayligh ing and he mal
p ope ies in esponse o changing condi ions. One pionee ing p o o ype
is he Kine ic Façade de eloped by SOM and enginee ed by ETH Zu ich.
This mul i-s o y HiLo Building a chi ec u al skin ea u ed an a ay o
ac ua ed panels ha could indi idually o a e up o 90 deg ees (Jaya-
hissa e al., 2018). Using algo i hms modeled on neu al p ocesses, he
açade i e a i ely uned i s con igu a ion o op imally balance dayligh
ing ess, iews, passi e hea ing/cooling and isual p i acy goals.
Real- ime en i onmen al da a such as sola exposu e, occupancy
pa e ns and ene gy me ics in o med he sys em’s e ol ing beha io
o e ime h ough unsupe ised machine lea ning echniques. Du ing
es ing, he açade au onomously eo ien ed panels o p o ide uni o m
dayligh dis ibu ion inside while minimizing o e hea ing, demon-
s a ing neu o-adap i e design p inciples in ac ion. I s dynamic modu-
la ion showed po en ial o signi ican ene gy sa ings compa ed o a
s a ic acade. Howe e , u he esea ch is s ill needed o e ine he
sys em’s con ol a chi ec u e and imp o e i s long- e m eliabili y unde
eal-wo ld wea he a iabili y be o e ull-scale implemen a ion. The
Kine ic Façade none heless ep esen s a pionee ing applica ion o
biologically-inspi ed esponsi e design ha could help buildings
con inuously sel -op imize i such p o o ypes achie e obus
unc ionali y.
Socio echnical isioning o an empa he ic neu o-u banism
En ision he bu geoning ield o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e a a
socie al scale. No longe s a ic backd ops o human beha iou , u u e
ci ies may os e wellness h ough salien in as uc u es a uned o he
ebbs and lows o communal a ec i e landscapes. Via Dis ibu ed soci-
o echnical con igu a ions, u ban milieus become si es o ongoing co-
c ea ion be ween inhabi an s and en i ons—syne gis ic ne wo ks op i-
mizing wellbeing ia epigene ic co-shaping o human expe ience o e
empo al and spa ial ecologies.
Ne wo ked senso ima ics disclose luc ua ing emo ional clima es
while AI-in used gene a i e design ac ualizes adap i e esponses.
Recon igu able ma e ials and mo phogene ic o ms eshape spaces o
sui ci cadian, sociocul u al, and ask- ela ed hy hms. Dynamic ligh -
ing, soundscapes, and spa ial con igu a ions cul i a e a hype pe sonal
sense o place and belonging h ough collec i e low s a es. Eme gen
p ope ies o neu o-u ban meshes nu u e p osociali y, c ea i i y, and
esilience ia empa hic calib a ion o senso y a o dances o nonlinea
signa u es o wellness ac oss sociodemog aphic s a a.
Ye p ecau ions ci cumsc ibe o e each in o in ima e sphe es. Mul i-
s akeholde go e nance ensu es equi able access amid echnology’s
oubling p opensi y o exace ba e ex an inequi ies. Con inuous e al-
ua ion and ecalib a ion gua d agains unin ended semio ics o panop ic
chilling e ec s. Only h ough igilance agains he dys unc ions o
powe can neu o-adap i e ci ies ul il hei po en ial o libe a e human
lou ishing.
Global ad ancemen in neu o adap i e echnology and design
The pas decade has seen emendous p og ess pushing he bound-
a ies o neu o-adap i e a chi ec u e and sus ainable u ban planning
wo ldwide. G oundb eaking esea ch cen e s ha e eme ged as global
leade s in his ield. Ba celona has implemen ed senso y u banism
p inciples ha ocus on designing u ban spaces o s imula e and engage
esiden s’ senses posi i ely. By inco po a ing elemen s like g een spaces,
in e ac i e a ins alla ions, and senso y pa hways, Ba celona aims o
c ea e a mo e inclusi e and s imula ing u ban en i onmen ha en-
hances well-being and quali y o li e (Spanja and Suu enb oek, 2020).
In Eu ope ETH Zu ich dis ibu ed senso ne wo ks and esponsi e p o-
o ypes in eg a ing eal- ime emo ional and cogni i e acking. Ac oss
Asia, ins i u es like Tsinghua Uni e si y a e de ining new on ie s
A. Makanada
