Friday 6 March 2026 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Conference Room, Civil Engineering Building, University of Cambridge
About
The DRF Lunchtime Clinic is delighted to welcome Dr Michal Gath-Morad, Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Cognitive Architecture research group, who will join us to talk about “Linking Human Behavior and Spatial Representation to Support Evidence-Based Design.”
Abstract: The increasing complexity of architectural projects requires robust evidence to inform design decisions across all stages of the process. While environmental performance is widely quantified, measuring how spatial configuration affects cognition and behaviour remains a significant challenge. This talk demonstrates how theories and methods from spatial cognition can address this gap. I will present a series of research projects across hospitals, cruise ships, and analogue space stations, showing how spatial properties such as visibility, connectivity, and layout structure influence navigation, interaction, and cognitive load. By integrating behavioural experiments, spatial analytics, and computational modelling, this work develops a framework for linking spatial representation to measurable human outcomes. I will discuss methodological constraints, representational challenges, and opportunities for advancing evidence-based, human-centred design in complex operational environments.
Bio: Dr Michal Gath-Morad is Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and Fellow & Director of Studies in Architecture and Design at Peterhouse. She directs the Cambridge Cognitive Architecture (CCA) research group and founded NeuroCīvitās, a cross-disciplinary initiative examining mental health and the built environment. She holds a Doctor of Sciences (Dr. sc.) in Cognitive Science from ETH Zürich. Her research integrates spatial configuration analysis, computational modelling, behavioural experiments, and psychophysiological measurement to investigate how built environments shape cognition, stress regulation, and team performance.
Her work combines BIM-based simulation, 3D spatial analytics, agent-based modelling, and wearable sensing to develop quantitative frameworks for evidence-based and adaptive design. She is an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (2026–2028) and Fellow of Peterhouse where she directs studies in Architecture and Design.