Designing for All Senses At Heriot-Watt University Dubai
How a new design approach is shaping better well-being, by Vrushali Mhatre, Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University Dubai
For centuries, architecture prioritised visual aesthetics and functional utility, forgetting something fundamental: that our bodies remember what good design often forgets. The texture beneath our fingers, the quality of sound, and the air we breathe continuously shape our nervous systems. Our buildings may be photographically beautiful, but they often leave us depleted, anxious, and unable to name exactly why we feel so drained by the end of the day.
In recent years, however, a new design paradigm has emerged that seeks to transform the way we interact with our environment. This multidisciplinary approach has gained critical momentum across healthcare, education, workplace, and residential design, driven by neuroscientific evidence that our built environments directly influence stress levels, cognitive performance, social connection, and healing. Sensory design is evolving from an innovative practice to an essential framework in a manner that amplifies emotional connections and enhances spatial experiences. It positively impacts various aspects of human life and is now in great demand. According to Statistics MRC, the Global Sensory-Friendly Home Architecture Market totalled USD 223.01 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 477.78 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 11.5 per cent during the forecast period. This conceptual approach considers all human experiences within a building, including sounds, textures, aromas, and flavours. The core principles and applications of this concept include.
- Sight
Light doesn’t just illuminate, it instructs’ s. Our bodies read it as a command: wake up, wind down, focus and rest. Visual elements have always been the highlight of architecture and interior design. The interplay of light, colour, and form influences not only how a building is perceived but also the emotions it evokes in its visitors. While brightly lit rooms encourage alertness and activity, dim lighting can evoke relaxation and introspection in people. The second visual element, colour, has well-documented psychological effects. While warm colours such as reds and oranges are stimulating and energising, cool colours like blues and greens promote calm and serenity. The form, including textures and shapes, is also essential in the visual experience, as showcased by the texture of the flooring and the use of specific construction materials, such as glass and stone, that intuitively organise the spatial design.
- Sound
The brain processes sound continuously even during sleep, which means poor acoustic design isn’t just unpleasant, it’s physiologically exhausting. Meanwhile, the absence of natural sounds, such as birdsong, rustling leaves, and flowing water, creates sensory deprivation that occupants can’t name but absolutely feel. The relationship between sound and structure significantly influences perception, mood, and functionality, making soundscapes a vital component of architectural expression. By managing ambient noise and acoustics, architects and interior designers can craft environments that either amplify or soften sound, enhancing the overall experience.
- Touch
Touch is the most neglected yet important sense in contemporary design; it’s how people physically connect themselves in space. The physical sensation of materials in an environment plays a pivotal role in how people feel, behave, and experience moments. For instance, natural materials like wood, stone, and clay bring warmth and authenticity to architectural spaces, encouraging deeper sensory engagement. In contrast, synthetic elements such as metal or concrete often convey a cold and impersonal tone. These differences allow designers and architects to creatively play with contrasting textures of smooth and rough, polished and raw, that guide occupants through an enriching tactile journey.
- Olfactory
Scent bypasses rational thought entirely, hitting memory and emotion directly. One smell can transport someone back decades or make a space feel wrong before they understand. In sensory design, attention is given to olfactory elements to ensure that the aroma of a space complements its purpose. This is especially evident in commercial spaces, where specific scents are integrated into retail or hospitality environments to enhance brand identity and customer engagement. For instance, the use of a particular fragrance in a hotel lobby can create a welcoming atmosphere, prompting guests to associate that scent with comfort and luxury. Homes with large windows, aromatic plants, and gardens also benefit from the fresh scent of flora and rain, which can enhance indoor air quality while providing a refreshing contrast to the sterile smells of urban living.
- Taste
People taste their environments more than they realise. The stale air and the faint chemical edge in sealed offices with improper IAQ. Our bodies register it as a warning long before our minds catch up. Air quality, humidity, and material off-gassing all register on the tongue first. It is the body’s alarm system detecting something off, something unhealthy, something that shouldn’t be ingested with every breath.
Sensory design, therefore, has a wide range of applications and can significantly impact the way people live their daily lives. This multidisciplinary concept highlights how interiors and architecture are not static; rather, they can evoke emotions, dictate moods, and dynamically influence the way people navigate their surroundings. By engaging the full spectrum of senses skillfully, architects and interior designers facilitate a holistic, joyful, and memorable experience for everyone.
Sensory design marks a transformative shift, moving beyond visual aesthetics to embrace a multisensory understanding of human experience. By thoughtfully integrating elements that appeal to sight, sound, touch, smell, and even taste, designers are shaping spaces that resonate emotionally, function intuitively, and promote wellbeing. As the global demand for sensory-friendly environments continues to rise, this holistic design philosophy highlights a broader cultural movement toward mindfulness, comfort, and human-centred living. Ultimately, sensory design invites us to experience our surroundings not just as static structures, but as living environments that engage, inspire, and connect us on a deeper, more personal level.
