On February 20th and 21st, Neuroscience and Architecture brings together neuroscience, architecture, design, and human sciences at the Bovisa Durando Campus.
Promoted by POLI.design and ANFA Italy, the conference marks the opening of the third edition of the Executive Course in Neuroscience and Design, directed by Davide Ruzzon, who also introduces and coordinates the two-day program.

The event focuses on the perceptual, bodily, and emotional experience of the built environment and explores five key concepts for human-centered design: Embodiment, Emotion, Atmosphere, Attunement, and Memory.
The opening session includes a short introductory address by Sergei Gepshtein, President of ANFA, connecting remotely from San Diego.

Below you can find the full conference schedule.

February 20th

9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (CET) | Bovisa Durando Campus, Room B2.3.4

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Opening

Chair: Davide Ruzzon (Scientific Director, Executive Course in Neuroscience and Design)

Speaker

Sergei Gepshtein (President, ANFA – San Diego)

9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Embodiment and Emotions

The role of the body and emotions in spatial experience — how spatial configurations activate bodily engagement during navigation, and how forms and materials can evoke emotional memories.

Chair: Miriam D’Ignazio (Architect – ANFA Italy)

Speakers

• Cinzia Di Dio (Neuropsychologist – Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore di Milano)
• Vittorio Gallese (Neuroscientist – Parma University)
• Isabella Pasqualini (Architect – HSLU, Lucerne School of Design Film and Art)
• Andrea Pinotti (Philosopher – Università Statale di Milano)
• Riccardo Viale (Sociologist, Behavioral Economics – LUISS, Roma)

2:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Atmosphere and Attunement

How atmospheres emerge from the interaction of geometry, materials, light, and sound, and how design aligns with users’ perceptual and cognitive expectations.

Chair: Ludovica Gregori (Architect – ANFA Italy)

Speakers

• Renato Bocchi (Architect – IUAV Venezia)
• Elisabetta Canepa (Architect, PhD – Università di Genova)
• Tiziana Proietti (Architect and Professor – Oklahoma University)
• Sarah Robinson (Architect and philosopher – Pavia)

February 21st

9:00 AM – 1:30 PM (CET) | Bovisa Durando Campus, Room B2.01

9:00 AM – 12.30 PM

A Design for Humans: Memory and Place‑Making

Memory as a key dimension in architectural and urban design.

Chair: Redon Softa (Architect – ANFA Italy)

Speakers

• Katia Accossato (Architect and Professor – Politecnico di Milano)
• Chiara Rizzi (Architect and Professor – Università della Basilicata)
• Pierluigi Sacco (Biobehavioral Economics – Università Chieti-Pescara)
• Antonio Sorrentino (Architect and PhD – Università La Sapienza di Roma)

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Final Debate

Chairs: Maria Chiara Monacelli (Architect – ANFA Italy), Davide Ruzzon