Architecture Engineers Award

This study reconceptualizes the ontological status of architecture by positioning it not as a passive backdrop or symbolic construct, but as an active participant in human cognition. Drawing on Material Engagement Theory , the research argues that architecture functions as a macro-cognitive artifact—shaping, enabling, and co-constituting thought processes through continuous interaction with its users. The investigation focuses on Ryue Nishizawa ’s Moriyama House, which serves as a theoretical probe to explore how spatial fragmentation and material conditions influence cognitive engagement. Theoretical Framework: Architecture Beyond Representation Material Engagement Theory (MET) challenges traditional views that treat architecture as either a neutral container or a symbolic system. Instead, it proposes that cognition emerges through dynamic interactions between humans and material environments. Within this framework, buildings actively participate in shaping perception, behavior, and...

Introduction Integrating human needs , emotions, and cognitive responses into architectural design has long been a core objective of design research. However, conventional architectural processes often fall short in capturing the full spectrum of human experience. Recent advances in affordable, mobile electroencephalography (EEG) devices, particularly when combined with virtual reality (VR), open new possibilities for evidence-based, human-centered architectural design. This study positions itself within this emerging intersection of neuroscience, immersive technology, and architecture. EEG and VR as Emerging Tools in Architectural Research EEG and VR technologies enable researchers to simulate architectural environments while simultaneously capturing real-time neural responses. This paragraph discusses how the integration of EEG and VR allows designers to study users’ physiological, psychological, and cognitive reactions to spatial environments in controlled yet immersive condition...