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Category Archives: Biology
Faces: The Key to Making Happy Places
Do you see faces in these gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, a popular summer retreat on this island ten miles off the coast of Massachusetts? Does it seem like they are looking at you? Built as part of … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, Design, Neuroscience, People-centric Design
Tagged faces, pareidolia
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The Case Against All-Glass Facades
The pictures tell the story. And make the case. Biometric studies explain why. At left, is a photo of MassArt Design and Media Center, (c. 2016), a public college of applied art in downtown Boston; at right, the George Wythe … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, Design, Eye Tracking, Neuroscience, People-centric Design
Tagged Glass Facades
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Empathy in Design: Measuring the Impact of Biophilia
Is home your happy place? Does it make you feel warm and welcome? Now that a pandemic has turned our homes into multipurpose spaces that double as offices, gyms, schools, playgrounds and safe havens from a virus, feelings matter more than … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, Design, Eye Tracking, Health, People-centric Design
Tagged Biophilia
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Why eye-track the Mona Lisa? To see your brain at work!
Humans are pattern recognition experts. And looking at Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (c. 1503) below, listed as the world’s most viewed painting, is a good way to see the pattern we’re most cut out to see. It’s the face, … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, Eye Tracking, Patterns, People-centric Design
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‘Ux+Design’ Conference Take-aways: Biometrics Can Tell Us a lot about Buildings …and Ourselves
A good turnout at the 1st International Urban Experience and Design (Ux+Design/2019) conference at Tufts last month, which drew architects, planners, researchers and students from around the world interested in improving the built environment and better understanding our responses to … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, City Planning, Eye Tracking, STEM, Walkability
Tagged Architecture, biometrics, Design, Eye Tracking, urban planning
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O-x-y-t-o-c-i-n: The 8-letter Word Every Architect Should Know
What are attributes of great design? It draws the eye. And you delight in taking it in—no matter your age, background or the times you live in. The buildings wordlessly beckon. But how? Turns out to understand why great buildings … Continue reading
Wellness Walls: A Look at Leaves and their Long-lasting Allure
Last week’s GreenBuild/ ABX2017Expo in Boston boasted a mind-boggling 550+ exhibitors and 75+ product categories focused on sustainable building—from insulation to solar panels. As the escalator descended to the 12-acre exhibit space, I felt that Robin Williams’ Moscow on Hudson … Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Health, Primal Vista, STEM
Tagged Garden Design, gardens, Green Spaces, Wellness
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The Genetics of Garden Design
Architecture is not just about houses and buildings—it’s also about gardens and landscapes. In the Genetics of Design, we write about how design affects biology and how biology affects design. Well-designed spaces make people feel comfortable and safe. They mesh … Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Design, Exercise, Health, People-centric Design, Walkability
Tagged Garden Design, gardens, Green Spaces, Health, Wellness
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The Primal Vista: Why We Crave Water Views
Every summer, Mark and I reserve one vacation week for a trip to the quaint Cape Cod town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. No chateau in Chinon, palazzo in Paris or castle in Cardiff, just a few rooms with a view—an ocean view. Like many … Continue reading
Following Fractals
“God is in the details.” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe As New England emerged from a record-breaking snowy winter, I watched trees blossom overnight into intricate patterns against a blue sky. Without thinking, I grabbed my iPhone and pointed … Continue reading
