On October 27, 2026, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Aula Labò of Roma Tre University’s Department of Architecture, housed in the former Mattatoio, will host the 14th edition of “Progettare il Progettista”, the annual conference of APIL, the Italian Association of Lighting Professionals, dedicated to the ethical, cultural, and technological evolution of the lighting design professions. This year’s title, Designing light between neuroscience and architecture, places lighting design atthe center of the debate as an interdisciplinary practice, along with the ways in which the luminousenvironment shapes how we experience space. ATMOSFERA Mag is the media partner for this edition.
Light, perception, and neuroscience in the built environment
Whether natural or controlled, light influences human perceptual, cognitive, and physiological processes, with measurable effects on behavior, well-being, and the quality of spatial experience. Neuroscience applied to architecture now offers tools for interpreting these phenomena, provided those tools are used with methodological rigor and combined with direct observation of users and the settings in which spaces are used. This is the field of research in which “Progettare il Progettista” 2026 positions itself, approaching neuroarchitecture as a transdisciplinary area spanning neuroscience, environmental psychology, and design. The focus is on visual and non-visual systems, the regulation of circadian rhythms, the role of natural light and the alternation of light and dark, as well as the effects of the luminous environment on learning, mood, stress, and sleep quality. Neuroscience, however, is treated as a tool for interpretation and understanding, not as a prescriptive model. Scientific data is read alongside observed real-world behavior and the complexity of human experience in space, keeping the relationship between mind, body, and environment at the center.
From neuroarchitecture to lighting design: the talks
Four professionals from different disciplines will explore these relationships, examining the links between environmental stimuli, cognitive processes, cultural experience, and design.
The scientific program will open with Andrèa de Paiva, an architect and the founder of NeuroAU, a platform dedicated to neuroarchitecture and science-informed design. Her talk, Neuroarchitecture: from understanding experience to design, will examine how environmental stimuli—from light to sound, from materials to the organization of space—interact with people’s perceptual, cognitive, and physiological processes.
The relationship between the luminous environment and bodily experience will be at the heart of the talk by Martina Frattura, a lighting designer and researcher in the fields of light and neuroscience. In Light as a permeable bridge between body, mind, and built space, Frattura will examine perception as an active process, shaped by context and by the conditions in which it unfolds.
With Pier Luigi Sacco, a cultural and biobehavioral economist who teaches at G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, the discussion will widen to the relationship between culture, art, and well-being. His talk will address the value of cultural experience for health and quality of life.
Alberto Pasetti Bombardella, an architect and lighting designer, will close the program of talks with Lighting design expands toward the synapses. Drawing on what is known about the physiology and neuronal structure of the human brain, his talk will investigate the relationship between light stimuli, perceptual responses, and emotional reactions.
Rethinking the role of the lighting designer
The conference sets out to reflect on the role of the designer, who is now called upon to integrate scientific knowledge, design experience, and close attention to users. From this perspective, light is no longer merely a technical parameter but a structural component of the design, capable of shaping health, behavior, and the quality of everyday life. Bringing architecture, lighting design, neuroscience, and cultural economics into dialogue broadens the reflection on the profession’s responsibilities. Understanding how people perceive and inhabit their surroundings means considering design not only in terms of performance and functional requirements but also in relation to the experiences that spaces make possible.
“Progettare il Progettista” thus reaffirms its mission to serve as a forum for professional development and interdisciplinary dialogue, where scientific knowledge engages with design culture without supplanting the professional’s sensitivity and critical judgment.
Program and registration information
The day will begin at 2:00 p.m. with participant registration, followed by opening remarks from Bianca Tresoldi, president of APIL; the talks will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Participation is free for APIL members; the fee is €20 for AIDI members and students and €40 for non-members of APIL. Participants will receive 4 CNAPPC and 4 APIL professional development credits (CFP).
Registration via Google Form is required by October 23, 2026. More information is available at www.apilitalia.it or by emailing apil@federlegnoarredo.it.