Sensory Design: Neurobiological Foundations for Architectural Practice
Live webinar (available on-demand following the live session)
Tuesday 7 July 2026
1pm – Melbourne, Sydney
12:30pm – Adelaide, Darwin
11am – Perth
1 Formal CPD Point
Overview
This session introduces architects to sensory design through a psychological and neuroscientific lens. It frames architectural practice as an active participant in regulating perception, attention, behaviour, meaning, wellbeing and health—mental health in particular. The session equips participants with a nascent theoretical, yet practical conceptual framework for design.
The designed world has immediate and powerful impacts on the way all people behave, think, feel and on the disorders of these neural functions—our mental health. It also has further downstream effects that can be traced to our hormones. The effects the designed world has on these high-level systems is more direct, but more subtle than current pharmacology. For this reason, it is both more powerful and yet produces no side effects—if only it can be properly targeted. Already architects often develop an intuitive sense about how design choices may affect users, where good choices can deliver enormous benefits, but this approach doesn’t cut it when paired with the high standards that are required of medicine. The science is only emerging, but already we have directions that are promising and worthy of experimentation in praxis.
This session will focus on the architectural tools we have for designing to for better health. The session will provide guidance on how we can enable balance, clarity, orientation, and emotional regulation. The session bridges neuroscience, phenomenology, and architectural practice, translating biological principles into design-relevant insights.
Your Facilitator
Candice Halliday - Principal Architect
Candice Halliday is the Principal Architect and founder of CNA Design Studio, based in regional New South Wales. With over a decade of experience, she is known for designing sustainable, inclusive spaces that respond to both people and place. Her work spans residential, education, health, aged care, commercial, and interior design sectors, shaped by her time in diverse practices across Canberra and Newcastle.
A registered Building Design Practitioner and specialist in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Candice is a national advocate for accessible, high-performance design. As the 2026 National President of the Australian Institute of Architects’ Emerging Architects and Graduates Network (EmAGN), she champions equity, mentorship, and regional engagement.
Her practice reflects a commitment to circular economy principles, collaborative industry leadership, and architecture that fosters community, resilience, and innovation.
Your Presenter
Jan Golembriewski - Registered Architect | Director of Psychological Design
Jan Golembiewski is a Registered Architect and Director of Psychological Design, a Sydney-based practice specialising in human-centred and health-focused architecture. Internationally recognised, his work spans health, education and urban projects, with a strong focus on design psychology, salutogenic health and ecological approaches to the built environment. He is a regular international lecturer, widely published, and has served as a juror for major global architecture awards.
His portfolio ranges from residential projects to major health precincts, including Australia’s largest health precinct and a leading psychiatric rehabilitation centre in Qatar. A former Adjunct Professor at QUT, Jan’s research bridges neuroscience and architecture, with a particular focus on mental health. He is a recognised leader in design innovation addressing behavioural and psychological responses to environments and has contributed to initiatives supporting dementia care and mental health, alongside co-founding Earthbuilt Technology to advance low-carbon, accessible housing solutions.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Explain the primary means for how environments influence perception and cognition, and attention
- Develop design choices to support human health and wellbeing
- Understand how an awareness of cultural and diversity leads to better design choices
NSCA 2021 Performance Criteria
PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
PC25 Be able to draw on knowledge from the history and theory of architecture as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design.
PC26 Be able to undertake site, cultural and contextual analysis as part of preliminary design research.
PC28 Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
PC34 Communicate conceptual design proposals and associated information to client, stakeholders and communities using appropriate and culturally responsive methods appropriate to different audiences
Price
Members: $79
Student members: FREE
Non-members: $149
FAQs
What Do I Do Next?
- You will receive an automated registration email upon purchase. Follow the link in this email to take you to the course.
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Cancellations and Refunds
Generally, the Institute will not agree to a refund if the request is received less than 14 days before the event starts, unless otherwise stated in the cancellations and refunds policy.