Inside the World of 'Neuroarchitecture': How Buildings Affect Your Brain

Could adding greenery to a hospital encourage patients' healing? And could increasing natural brightness by adding large windows into an office lead to better focus? Canadian architect, Alyssa Anselmo, thinks so, and is sparking conversation on Instagram about the link between emotion and design after a video she posted exploring the psychological impact of everyday buildings went viral. Anselmo, 30, from Edmonton, Canada, never expected her clip comparing office and church interiors to receive over 189,000 likes and spark such interest in how we can alter our environments to enhance our mental performance and mood. The award-winning architect behind Studio Anva is overjoyed at how the viral moment has invited people to reconsider the architecture influencing their daily lives. "I wanted to show spaces like traditional churches versus ultra modern ones, inspiring office spaces versus sterile windowless cubicles, classrooms, homes and more," Anselmo, who studied interior architecture in Florence, Italy before joining an architecture firm in New York, told Newsweek. "My goal was to visually illustrate how our environments have changed, and not always for the better. "I wanted to make people pause and feel something...Would you be more inspired in this classroom or in this one? Would you feel more creative in this office or that one? It is not just about aesthetics, it is about how our spaces affect us on a subconscious level."

What Is Neuroarchitecture?

The short video, posted on February 22 under @alyssaanselmo_, shows Anselmo addressing the viewer while showing contrasting images—one a typical dim corporate office, the other a bright, inviting workspace. "Would you feel more stressed in this office or in this one?" she asked, before cutting to two churches—one stark and modern, the other ornate and classical. "Would you feel more inspired in this church or in this one?" She added, before going on to compare a sterile, standard-looking hospital to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore which is known for its unique use of greenery.

The caption also posed a reflective challenge: "Are you very much affected by your environment? If so, how? This basically comes down to neuroarchitecture which is the study of how we interact with our built environments. Truly the main if not only reason I chose to design buildings really." Anselmo's framing—equal parts visual comparison and guided self-reflection—touched on this field of growing relevance: neuroarchitecture, which explores how architectural spaces can influence brain function, stress levels, creativity and mood. For Anselmo, it is far more than just a design philosophy—and while it may sound complex the ethos is simple: inject natural light, characterful design and greenery into spaces for a more rejuvenating experience in them. "We have grown used to dull lifeless environments because they are cheaper and faster to build, but at what cost to our wellbeing," she said. "I want to open up a conversation about design, psychology, and how we have undervalued beauty in everyday life. "I want people to see that creating a thoughtful meaningful space is not just for the rich, it is about intention, materials, and tuning into what inspires you." Dr. Emma Seppälä, a psychologist and researcher affiliated with Stanford University and Yale School of Management, also emphasized the importance of one's environment on their emotional health. "Exposure to nature—even if just for a short walk or a moment spent outdoors—can significantly improve mood, lower stress, and enhance cognitive performance," Seppälä, whose research is focused on how our surroundings can impact on mental performance, told Newsweek. "Natural elements like sunlight, greenery, and birdsong have measurable effects on brain chemistry and emotional wellbeing. Even brief exposures to nature can help to restore focus and reduce anxiety." Seppälä is not the only person who has vouched for the psychological impact our surroundings can have. Anselmo's video led to comments pouring in from people reflecting on their own office spaces, homes and schools, and how those settings shape their mental state.

"That's my hospital," one viewer said. "And we even have gardening therapy for the older folks there!" "I like colors, natural materials, greens, plants, cozy sofas," another added. "100," a third viewer said. "When I go to see the doctor in America, I feel like I'm in a cold clinic and ready to die, but in many doctor's offices in Korea, I feel like I'm at a spa." "Always the second one," another added. "It's not about money...It's about personality of the room on itself." "Bring beauty back to the world," another said. "The comments really proved the point," Anselmo said. "People overwhelmingly said yes, they are affected by their space, whether they realize it or not. "While some people kept saying this is all about money, I believe it is not, some of the best spaces I have ever designed were on a tight budget." That belief—that thoughtful architecture should be accessible—is what drives her current work. "Right now, I am working on additional holistic childcare centers and other design projects while also filming and sharing my apartment series," she said. "It is a challenge, but a creatively fulfilling one." Anselmo was first invited to design a holistic child care center back in her hometown, Edmonton, a year after graduating. "I found myself leading the design of a 1,000 square meter building solo," Anselmo said. "I had to learn how to navigate everything on my own, from contractors to developers to the industry language. "I completed the project and that is when I grew the craving to do more solo designs." That first center led to a second childcare facility, and with it, a wave of attention online that Anselmo never anticipated. "It was already built by the time I joined TikTok, but I decided to post a walkthrough video," she said. "It unexpectedly went viral and led to an overwhelming wave of curiosity and support. "People were amazed that a daycare could look and feel like that, filled with natural light, rich materials, and a warm, child-led design ethos inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach." Encouraged by the positive reaction, she began posting more often, shifting from finished projects to styling her own apartment—offering aesthetic ideas that balance design ambition with affordability. "I launched a personal series styling my own apartment," she said. "It was an opportunity to not only share my aesthetic process but also help people create spaces that reflect their personalities and bring them joy, no matter their budget. "I truly believe that good design is not about money, it is about thoughtfulness, self-awareness, and a sense of connection to the objects and materials in your home." Design constraints, she explained, do not limit creativity—instead, they foster it by forcing people to think outside the box with what they have access to. What resonated most in her recent clip, perhaps, is the underlying message that people want beauty in their lives, but not for vanity. They want design that makes them feel grounded, uplifted, and seen. "At the heart of it, the video took off because people are craving depth and beauty in their lives," Anselmo said. "And I want to help them reclaim their spaces, regardless of budget, to reconnect with how their environments make them feel."