Julie Milovanovic: Effects of Biophilic Design on Emotions, Cognition and Neurophysiology

Architecture and its Cognition, Architectonics From The Mind.
CAAD Theory, Elective course Bc./Ms., Autumn semester 2024, Dr. Sc. P. Cutellic.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Julie Milovanovic, UNCC, 11.11.2024
Julie Milovanevic, an architect and researcher at UNCC specializing in design cognition, education, and sustainable design, presents her findings on biophilic design's impact on well-being. Rooted in our innate biological and genetic connections to nature, her research investigates the psychophysiological effects of exposure to natural elements within the built environment. The presentation explores two experimental studies assessing cognitive and neurophysiological responses to biophilic design. In one study, design students worked in a space featuring an algae façade, allowing for analysis of their performance and engagement. The second study measured participants’ reactions to images containing biophilic elements, using tools such as eye trackers and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). These methods provided objective data on how natural elements in spaces affect perception, cognition, and emotional well-being. By blending subjective evaluations with empirical measurements, Milovanevic sheds light on the challenges of quantifying which biophilic features most effectively support health and productivity. Her research underscores the importance of integrating nature into architectural design to create environments that foster physical and mental wellness, offering new pathways for sustainable and health-conscious design practices. Extrapolating from this body of work, one might raise critical questions: To what extent does conceptual biophilic content influence the mind? And is biophilia a feature-wise or object-wise principle?
This course is part of the research project Neuramod, Architectural Modeling from Neural Potentials.
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