Human-Centred Design: Spatial Cognition and Hyper-Morphology
We are delighted to announce the forthcoming release of Professor Hee Sun Choi’s new book, Human-Centred Design: Spatial Cognition and Hyper-Morphology (Hardcover, Routledge), which will be published on October 29, 2025.
This timely work investigates how people experience and inhabit high-density and high-rise urban environments, engaging with current debates on psychological, physical, and environmental health impacts. The book offers a novel exploration of the evolving definitions of space and new forms of social interaction within vertical cities, while advancing a neuroscience-informed framework for urban design.
Drawing on international case studies from Singapore, Seoul, and Hong Kong, Professor Choi introduces the concept of emotionally-led hyper-morphology to examine how spatial cognition and affective responses shape urban life. By bridging architectural design, neuroscience, and urban morphology, the book contributes both theoretically and practically to the future of human-centred vertical urbanism.
Early Reviews
The book has already received high praise from leading scholars and designers:
“This book provides more scientific evidence on how buildings shape the way we think and feel. Championing emotion as a key function of architecture, it shows how we can design buildings that can better connect us and provide joy to the everyday citizen. At a time when we are in desperate need to rehumanise our cities, we need to start acting on what the science is telling us.” — Thomas Heatherwick, September 2025
“An exceptionally useful study of how we truly experience high-rise living… this cutting-edge research demonstrates a range of emotional responses dependent on, inter alia, building height and spatial configurations.” — Austin Williams, Kingston School of Art, UK
“A timely and research-driven exploration… bridging neuroscience with design practice in a meaningful way.” — So-Yeon Yoon, PhD, Cornell University, USA
“This book provides a critical insight into human-centred design in the VUCA world… an important, timely and rich source of information for students, professionals, and anyone who cares about everyday life in cities.” — Dr. Bing Chen, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China