Rethinking the architecture of choice.

By Damiano Cerrone and Menno Cramer

This memo is first in a series of “thoughts on paper”, a summary of reflections sparked by reading “Creating useful policy steering rooms” by Mulgan and Quaggiotto. Here you can find the full collection of notes collected during our conversations.

In an era where the content, channels and credibility of information are fundamentally challenging institutions, the role of architectural design in decision-making environments has become more critical than ever. The spaces we inhabit and experience profoundly influence our choices, serving as both the medium and messenger of the cognitive processes they house.

Our physical surroundings aren't just backdrops for life; they shape our choices. They hold power.

As communication and interactions, increasingly mediated by AI agents, dominate human decision making, the creation of physical spaces designed to suit the human brain is central to gain clarity. We must develop real-world environments that guide us toward making transparent, value-based choices amidst the complexities introduced by biosynthetic processes. These spaces are essential to ensure the integrity and clarity of our decisional processes always, but especially when stakes are high.

“Spaces are silent dictators of behaviour; our walls have ears, our floors guide footsteps, and every open space whispers thoughts we thought were our own.”

The ethics of architectural design are under scrutiny, particularly in how spaces can manipulate decisional outcomes—either subtly guiding decisions or, potentially, misleading decision-makers. These concerns raise questions about the responsibility architects and designers hold in shaping biocentric environments that affect the public and private sector.

Ergonomics serves the purpose of enhancing the outcome of the task whilst taking into account the “human” layer. Now imagine entering a space meticulously designed to shape your decisions, where every element, from the ceiling height to the ambient scent, enhances your cognitive function. A space that serves the purpose of enhancing the outcome of thinking and decision making. This is Neuroergonomics.

Neuroergonomics removes spatial hurdles and introduces elements that sharpen thinking, creating “cognitive sanctuaries” that improve the quality, quantity, and speed of decision-making.

This design approach considers the brain's natural responses, blending environmental psychology and architecture to predict and influence human behaviour, making spaces an extension of the brain itself.

Cognitive sanctuaries are not a “zen garden” but organised laboratories of thought.They are  meticulously crafted spaces that impact the quality, quantity and speed of the actions/tasks/decisions taken in this room. Well designed spaces will lead to better decisions, more decisions and faster decisions. A space that allows the brain to function at its best. 

Whether it’s in a boardroom, a government bunker or a citizens’ assembly, the way a space is set up can change the decisions made there. Spaces designed (and adaptable) for high-stress decisions help leaders think quickly or deeply, depending on what’s needed.

Studies  show that simple architectural elements like ceiling height can directly influence cognitive processing power. Spaces with high ceilings tend to encourage creative, abstract thinking, while lower ceilings promote detail-oriented and focused mental activities (Meyers Levy and Zhu, 2007). Casino’s use the smell of lemon to influence us, and have no 90% corners so we don't have to make conscious and subconscious choices, making us easier to manipulate.

With the presence of AI in the creation of spaces as well as physical presence in spaces brings up new challenges. That’s why we've come up with Cognitive Sanctuaries. These are places specially made to support and enhance our thinking power by reducing stress and promoting clear thought, updating our old decision-making spots for the future and building increasingly unaffordable trust.

As we continue to shape the spaces around us, the challenge remains to balance technological integration with human-centric design principles to foster environments that support better decision-making while respecting the natural interplay of human intuition and collective societal well-being.

We are currently exploring the development of AI agents, frequently anthropomorphized, to participate in and support contemporary discussions and decision-making processes. However, our objective is not to create AI that conforms to these existing processes but to fundamentally redesign these processes themselves in a room where eye contact defines trust. 

As we design for the future, we need to create spaces that reflect how we interact and share information today, ensuring these places help us all thrive together, staying true to democratic values and helping us grow as a community. As we draft the future, our blueprints are more than plans for buildings; they are designs for a new society—a fortress for freedom, a scaffold for societal transformation.

Let's join forces to design spaces that aren't just functional but free us to think, create, and decide together. It’s time to build environments where collective intelligence and design converge.

Questions for a transformative space designer

To imagine new institutions, we must accept the dismantling of old ones. Are those involved in current public organisations prepared to re-imagine themselves in a new role, or to abandon them altogether?

Deconstructing Institutional Architecture

• How to identify and alter the architectural features that most significantly regulated traditional power structures? Is there a universal set of characteristics, or do these vary significantly between institutions?

• What is the optimal balance between AI-driven decision-making and human oversight? How can this balance prevent potential AI overreach while still benefiting from AI efficiencies?

• How transparent can an AI-led decision-making process be made to ensure that all stakeholders understand the basis of decisions?

Integrating Neuroergonomic Principles

• Which neuroergonomic interventions could be most impactful in decision-making environments to promote cognitive freedom and emotional wellness?

• Balancing the benefits of responsive environments with privacy concerns, what safeguards need to be in place when implementing technologies that adapt to the cognitive states of individuals?

• Addressing the ethical considerations, how can we ensure that the monitoring of brain activity in workplace settings respects individual privacy and consent?

Redesigning Cognitive Sanctuaries

• How can we use technology to create adaptive environments that are supportive but not overbearing or controlling?

• What are the practical challenges in scaling up the innovative designs of Cognitive Sanctuaries for use in larger, more traditional institutional settings?

• In what ways can we quantitatively and qualitatively measure the success of these redesigned spaces in fostering more egalitarian and collaborative decision-making processes?

Drawing Series by Hüseyin Yanar - Works exhibited at the 2015 Talinn Architecture Biennale