Nowadays, attention to mental health and well-being—not only physical but also emotional and psychological—has become an increasing focus not just in clinical settings but also in relation to numerous everyday factors. A notable example is the White January campaign, which emphasized this urgency, inviting us to reflect on mental and emotional well-being. In this scenario, neuroaesthetics and neuroarchitecture emerge as fields that serve as allies in this pursuit. They are not merely academic disciplines; they are practical approaches that seek to understand how our physical environment affects our psychological state. Neuroaesthetics, in particular, studies the relationship between aesthetic perception and neurological processes, as highlighted by Colin Ellard, a psychologist at the University of Waterloo and author of Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life (2015).
Neuroaesthetics and neuroarchitecture play an important role in proposing spaces that, beyond meeting a functional need or presenting an aesthetic suited to that purpose, also promote mental health, a sense of comfort, and emotional value. By examining the natural intersection of these fields with neuroscience and psychology, we can understand new models for the work of architects and designers. This multidisciplinary approach offers a perspective in which we can comprehend and shape our environment in a more conscious and responsive manner to human needs.
