P L A I A

Thursday 9 July 2026 – h. 13.15. Lecture by Federica Sanchez

This lecture explores how recent advances in neuroscience are transforming the way we understand and design the built environment. Rather than being a neutral backdrop, architecture continuously influences cognition, emotions, stress, memory, social interactions, and wellbeing. Understanding these effects opens new opportunities for creating spaces that actively support human health. The lecture will present a series of research projects and real-world case studies spanning both extreme and everyday environments. Drawing on experimental research combining virtual reality, biometric measurements, and behavioural analysis, the lecture will illustrate how physiological data can be used to evaluate architectural solutions and generate evidence-based design strategies. Finally, it will discuss the emerging role of artificial intelligence in analysing complex human data and developing predictive models capable of estimating the impact of architectural decisions before buildings are constructed. By bridging neuroscience, architecture, and technology, the lecture proposes a shift towards evidence-based design, where buildings are conceived not only for functionality and aesthetics but also for their measurable impact on human experience.

Federica Sanchez is an architect and researcher working at the intersection of neuroscience and architecture, focusing on how the built environment influences cognition, mental states, behaviour, and wellbeing. Her activities include the translation of scientific findings into human-centred design strategies and spatial applications, development and coordination of experimental studies, integrating scientific methods in the architectural design process. Her work focuses also on data visualization, science communication, and project management. She is part of the Neuroscience Lab at Lombardini22 and currently serves on the board of directors of NE+AR, contributing to its research, strategic development, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Federica graduated in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano and Technische Universiteit Delft, later specializing in Neuroscience applied to Architectural Design at IUAV.

This lecture will open the PLAIA Workshop 2 – at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. The workshop pivots around a design-research sprint where interdisciplinary teams outline reusable workflows for designing with soft values and computational tools. Feel welcome to register and join! We look forward to Federica’s lecture and other activities.