FORM FOLLOWS HUMAN – A New Perspective on Architecture

We believe architecture is more than form and function—it is the art of shaping how we feel, think, and connect. Our summer course, Echoes of the Alps (July 13–17, 2025), offers a unique opportunity to explore architecture through a deeply human-centered lens—where neuroscience, psychology, and design come together to inform the spaces we inhabit.

Set against the inspiring backdrop of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, this immersive program draws on the region’s rich architectural heritage to foster dialogue across disciplines. Participants will journey through iconic sites and engage in hands-on workshops, exploring how light, sound, texture, and materiality influence perception, cognition, and emotional well-being.

Expect stimulating lectures from 15 internationally recognized scientists and thinkers in cognitive science, neuroscience, and sociology—alongside visionary architects such as Chris McVoy (Partner Emeritus at Steven Holl Architects) and Juhani Pallasmaa.

At the heart of the course is the exploration of materiality—how materials such as rammed earth and wood not only form structures but shape the human experience within them. A visit to Martin Rauch’s Lehm Ton Erde studio will allow participants to engage directly with sustainable materials and building techniques.

Whether you’re an architect, designer, artist, or researcher, Form Follows Human invites you to rethink the purpose of design—not just to build, but to care, connect, and create meaning.

Confirmed List of Speakers

• Chris McVoy – Partner Emeritus at Steven Holl Architects and Co-Founder of O’Neill McVoy Architects

• Cornelia Faisst – Architect and Professor, University of Liechtenstein

• Daniel Haselsberger – Architect and Researcher, University of Liechtenstein

• David Kirsh – Cognitive Scientist, UC San Diego

• Enzo Enea – Founder of Enea Landscape Architecture

• Giovanni Vecchiato – Neuroscientist, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR Italy

• Giovanna Colombetti – Professor of Philosophy, University of Exeter

• Itai Palti – Architect and Founder of The Centre for Conscious Design and Hume, Israel

• Juhani Pallasmaa – Finnish Architect and Author

• Laura Lee – CEO of Maggie’s Centres, International Cancer Daycare Centres

• Marilynne Andersen – Physicist, EPFL Lausanne

• Sergei Gepshtein – Systems Neuroscientist, Salk Institute

• Upali Nanda – Architect and Global Sector Director for Innovation at HKS

• Zakaria Djebbara – Cognitive Neuroscientist, University of Aalborg

Can’t join us in person? No problem!
Together with our expert technical team, we ensure a seamless live conference experience for curious minds tuning in from afar. With multiple camera setups and crystal-clear audio, you won’t miss a moment. Even during excursions, we’ll capture the most important insights and upload them the same day. All talks will remain available online for two months after the conference—so you can revisit every highlight at your convenience. Wherever you are in the world, we’ll bring Form Follows Human to you.