Research led by Dr Matteo Zallio, Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge, has received the 2026 Buildings Best Paper Award for the paper Exploring Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in the Built Environment: A Case Study.
Published in the international journal Buildings (MDPI), the paper was selected from among numerous research articles across all subject areas published by the journal in 2024. The annual Best Paper Awards recognise publications that demonstrate outstanding scientific merit, originality, research impact, and influence within their respective fields.
The award-winning paper, co-authored with Professor P. John Clarkson from the Department of Engineering and Dr Camelia Chivǎran, represents a significant example of the interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of Cambridge's Departments of Architecture and Engineering. The research examines how architects, engineers, and designers can move beyond compliance-based approaches to accessibility by embedding Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) principles throughout the design process using evidence-based design methods. Through a detailed, extensive case study conducted in collaboration with the international company Motionspot, the research demonstrates practical approaches for creating built environments that better respond to people's diverse physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional and social needs in line with neurodesign research and principles.
The work contributes to a growing body of evidence showing that inclusive neurodesign should be understood not as a specialist consideration for a minority of users, but as a fundamental approach to improving the quality, usability and experience of buildings for everyone. By combining evidence-based design research with insights from human-responsive design, cognitive psychology, and neurodesign, the paper proposes a holistic framework for evaluating and enhancing the inclusiveness of the built environment.
The publication has already attracted considerable international attention, reflecting the increasing importance of inclusive and equitable design in architecture, urban development and public policy.
Commenting on the award, Dr Zallio said:
"It is a great honour to receive this recognition. Inclusive design has evolved from focusing primarily on accessibility to embracing the full diversity of human capabilities, experiences and aspirations through more data-informed, evidence-based approaches. Our ambition is to move above and beyond compliancy and bring the core learnings from academic research into practice and provide designers, industry leaders and policymakers with practical, evidence-based methods grounded in scientific research that help design neuro-inclusive environments where more people can participate, thrive and belong."
The award also reflects the Department of Architecture's growing leadership in interdisciplinary research connecting architecture, design, technology and human experience. Dr Zallio's research explores how inclusive design, environmental psychology and the ethical use of emerging technologies can be combined to develop future approaches to designing environments and experiences that are healthier, more equitable and more responsive to human diversity.
The recognised publication forms part of a wider programme of collaborative research at Cambridge that bridges architecture, neuroscience, engineering and design, investigating how evidence-based design methods can improve the quality of everyday environments while supporting innovation across architecture, healthcare, education and the wider built environment sector.
