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Growing insights from neuroscience—here, understood as an umbrella term for a number of empirical disciplines that study the relation brain, nervous system, genes, and behaviour—and its inquiries into how human behaviour and well-being is affected by interiors can enrich and inform the design of interiors and its properties innovatively. Interior design education can play a key role in linking the insights stemming from research and turn the question of human, experiential responsiveness into an elementary perspective of the design process. In this paper, we explain a pedagogical method developed for one of our graduate studios that addresses this issue and create a framework for a neuroscience-informed focus. Additionally, we illustrate the outcomes of student work created in this studio through two projects, each having a unique focus relating to interiors and the question of human behaviour and well-being, i.e., visual complexity and affordances. With the establishment of this master studio, we aim to provide students with an awareness and insights into how the many fields of study within neuroscience can facilitate, support, confirm, or adjust design knowledge.

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The joint European+ project Re-use of Modernist Buildings (RMB) started its activities in 2016. It is an educational collaboration between different European universities and organisations. The main objectives of this initiative is on the one hand to enhance student and staff mobility through a shared educational programme on master degree level; on the other hand it is to develop transformation strategies for modernist  buildings, mainly from the post-war period. RMB wants to develop an educational approach to this specific architectural heritage based on common definitions, approaches and methodologies. It takes its point of departure in existing research, educational practices and reference projects in the partner countries. This paper discusses the need for appropriate approaches to modernist buildings, definitions of re-use strategies and the position of RMB – as well as how the project’s educational programme is conceived and structured. Additional a more detailed description of the concept and the making of a so-called Case Study Handbook of Modernist Buildings follows, illuminating its asset as an important research and design tool.