Architecture Engineers Award

Understanding how users perceive and experience architectural spaces is a central concern in architectural research. With the advancement of immersive technologies, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating designed environments. This study focuses on evaluating a multisensory VR system that integrates visual, olfactory, and auditory stimuli to investigate human–built environment interactions under multimodal conditions. Multisensory VR and Sensory Architecture The research is grounded in the emerging field of sensory architecture, which seeks to move beyond vision-dominated representations of space. By incorporating smell and sound alongside visual cues, the multisensory VR system aims to simulate a more holistic and embodied spatial experience. This approach enables architects and researchers to better understand how multiple sensory inputs collectively shape perception and meaning in built environments. System Design and Prototype Development The study eval...

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...