The Building Culture Podcast

#44 Ann Sussman and Kelsey Bradley: Cognitive Architecture – Stone Age Brains In A Modern World: What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About Making Places People Love

5 snips
Jun 26, 2025
Ann Sussman, an architect and author of Cognitive Architecture, teams up with Kelsey Bradley, Executive Director of HAPI, to explore the intersection of neuroscience and design. They discuss how our 'Stone Age brains' react to modern environments, emphasizing the profound impact of space on mental health and emotional well-being. With insights into biometrics like eye tracking and heart rate variability, they reveal why some places invigorate us while others drain our energy. The conversation challenges current design practices, advocating for a more human-centric approach to architecture.
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INSIGHT

Stone Age Brain in Modern World

  • Our brains are essentially Stone Age hardware reacting in a modern world full of stimuli they're not evolved for.
  • This disconnect affects how we experience environments and informs why certain designs feel threatening or uncomfortable.
INSIGHT

Eye Tracking Reveals Social Primate Wiring

  • Eye tracking reveals humans unconsciously seek out red and faces everywhere, reflecting evolutionary survival cues.
  • Our brains devote more neurons to face perception than any other function, highlighting our social primate nature.
INSIGHT

Design Shapes Emotional Response

  • We respond positively to curves, nature's colors, and fractal patterns but react negatively to angular shapes and blank facades.
  • Our sensory experience shapes emotions and comfort subconsciously in built environments.
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