NEAR FRONTIERS 2026
Neuroscience of Human Experience in Architectural Research
Istanbul · July–August 2026
NEAR Frontiers 2026 brought together an international community of researchers, architects, designers, and practitioners to explore the intersections of architecture, neuroscience, human experience, and technology. Developed within the framework of NEAR Lab (Neuroscience of Human Experience in Architectural Research), the program unfolded through an international symposium followed by an intensive three-week research workshop in Istanbul.
A MEETING POINT BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND NEUROSCIENCE
How do we perceive space? How do our brains and bodies respond to the environments we inhabit? And how can emerging methods from neuroscience contribute to architectural research and design? NEAR Frontiers 2026 created an interdisciplinary platform around these questions, bringing together perspectives from architecture, neuroscience, cognitive science, technology, and professional practice.
The program began with the NEAR Frontiers Symposium, held from 27–29 July 2026, structured around three interconnected themes: Theory, Method, and Practice.
AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Throughout the symposium, we had the pleasure of welcoming an international group of researchers, academics, architects, and practitioners working across architecture, neuroscience, cognitive science, technology, and design.
Our invited researchers and speakers included Davide Ruzzon (IUAV / POLI.design), Sarah Robinson (Aalborg University), Nour Tawil (Max Planck Institute for Human Development), Isabella Bower (Deakin University), Yasemin Afacan (Bilkent University), Yaren Şekerci (Antalya Bilim University), Giovanni Vecchiato (CNR), Saleh Kalantari (Cornell University), Fiona Zisch & Hugo Spiers (University College London), Panos Mavros (Télécom Paris), Burcu Ayşen Ürgen (Bilkent University), Bahar Güntekin (Istanbul Medipol University), Firas Safieddine (Spatial Forces), Leman Figen Gül (Istanbul Technical University), Abigail Scott Paul (Heatherwick Studio), Natalia Olszewska (Impronta / IUAV), and Federica Sanchez (Lombardini22 / NE+AR).
The symposium also created a direct dialogue between academic research and architectural practice through its roundtable sessions. We welcomed Melike Altınışık (Melike Altınışık Architects), Murat Tabanlıoğlu (Tabanlıoğlu Architects), Natalia Olszewska (Impronta), Nevin Esin Tekin Bellibaş (Istanbul Medipol University), Konuralp Şenol (GAD Architects), Özer Arusoğlu & Hakan Padar (ARUP), Firas Safieddine (Spatial Forces), and Federica Sanchez (Lombardini22 / NE+AR).
The roundtable discussions were moderated by Tülay Karakaş (Istanbul Technical University / NEAR Lab) and Zakaria Djebbara (Aalborg University / BBAR Lab), creating a shared platform for discussions around human-centred design, research-based practice, neuroscience, emerging technologies, and their growing relationship with architectural practice.
FROM CONVERSATION TO EXPERIMENT
Following the symposium, NEAR Frontiers continued with an intensive three-week research workshop from 30 July to 21 August 2026. Interdisciplinary teams transformed the questions raised during the symposium into experimental research. Participants developed research questions and protocols, conducted experiments, collected data, and worked collaboratively through an iterative research process. The workshop explored methods and technologies including EEG, virtual and extended reality, physiological sensing, behavioural and subjective measurements, signal processing, experimental design, and data analysis. Across three weeks of experimentation, mentoring, discussion, and continuous testing, the workshop became a shared environment for exploring new ways of investigating the relationship between brain, body, space, and experience.
BEHIND NEAR FRONTIERS
NEAR Frontiers was also the result of an intensive collaborative process behind the scenes.
From developing the academic program and coordinating international researchers to preparing the symposium, experimental environments, technical infrastructure, and three-week workshop, the project brought together a multidisciplinary organisational team.
The organisation of NEAR Frontiers 2026 was made possible through the collective work of Attila Dikbaş, Dilek Yıldız Özkan, Zakaria Djebbara, Tülay Karakaş, Ecem Karabay Özder, Betül Uçkan, Umut Pektetik, Berkay Coşer, Elifsu Yumurtacı, and Shahad Al Samarraie, together with the wider organising and research teams.
WITH THANKS
NEAR Frontiers 2026 was hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and ITU ARI Teknokent, and developed through the collaboration of ITU Faculty of Architecture - NEAR Lab, Aalborg University - BBAR Lab, and Istanbul Medipol University Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture. The program was supported by the TÜBİTAK 2221 Fellowships for Visiting Scientists, ITU Development Foundation, and TechnoBee.
Our special thanks go to Prof. Dr. Attila Dikbaş, CEO of ITU ARI Teknokent and Dean of Istanbul Medipol University Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, for his invaluable support, guidance, and contribution throughout the entire process, and for helping make NEAR Frontiers 2026 possible.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to all invited researchers, speakers, roundtable participants, mentors, workshop participants, organising committee members, and everyone who contributed behind the scenes. Their knowledge, time, energy, and collective effort shaped NEAR Frontiers 2026 into an interdisciplinary environment for research, experimentation, exchange, and new collaborations.
What began as a meeting between disciplines evolved into weeks of conversation, experimentation, collaboration, and collective discovery - opening new possibilities for understanding the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit.
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