Neuroscience and design intersect in opening session
Time: 10:00
Venue: K3
Session name: How brain science can transform a luxury yacht
Speaker: Fiona Beenkens, founder, betterathome.be
Fiona Beenkens explored how neuroarchitecture and brain science can inform yacht design. Beenken's session revolved around the three pillars of neuroarchitecture: organising space differently and understanding our responses to stress, using colour consciously and, finally, leaving the ego behind. Having collaborated with neuroscientists and psychologists, Beenkens draws on research into how our brains respond to different spaces, light and texture and how all of these "have an impact on our emotional wellbeing".
The founder spoke about "the mentalities that open up about mental health" when architects and designers apply these principles. Beenkens bridged scientific insight with refined design sensibilities, focusing on the core three pillars of neuroarchitecture she outlined.
Beenkens said: "It's another job to be a psychologist, [but] architects and designers [can be] aware of the principles of their architecture, using three pillars to try to reorganise space so that the brain feels safe in terms of stress in our society – in terms of pressure, in terms of the stress hormones."