The spaces we occupy do not simply shelter us, they actively shape our physiological and psychological health. They can support resilience, recovery, and well-being, or they can contribute to chronic stress and disease. In this opening keynote, Tye Farrow and Cleo Valentine explore the growing scientific evidence demonstrating that the design decisions embedded within our buildings carry measurable consequences for human health.

Drawing on Valentine's research into allostatic load, visual stress, and architectural neurophysiology, the talk examines how environments that demand excessive cognitive and perceptual effort can impose hidden biological costs. When the brain must work harder to process its surroundings, fewer resources remain available for restoration, learning, creativity, and overall well-being. The discussion extends beyond immediate physiological responses to emerging theoretical work suggesting that chronic environmental stressors may have implications that reach across generations through epigenetic pathways.

Central to the keynote is a series of computational analyses examining the relationship between architectural form, materiality, and cortical processing. Using case studies drawn from Farrow's work, the speakers will demonstrate how different design approaches, including mass timber, biophilic forms, ceiling height, geometry, and façade composition, may influence the way the visual system processes architectural environments. Through computational models informed by visual neuroscience, attendees will gain insight into the hidden cognitive demands imposed by different architectural conditions and how these demands may contribute to stress or restoration.

Together, Farrow and Valentine argue that architecture should be understood not merely as an aesthetic or functional discipline, but as a public health intervention. The result is a compelling case for viewing design decisions, including material selection, spatial configuration, and visual complexity, as ethical choices that shape the health and well-being of those who inhabit our buildings.

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