The Neuroarchitecture of Dignity
This session bridges neuroscience and humanitarian practice, exploring how the built environment influences well-being, safety, and belonging. From tents and shelters to flood-resilient housing and refugee camps, the panel examines how physical spaces can either magnify stress or restore hope.
Speakers
- Donald H. Ruggles, AIA, NCARB, ANFA, HAPI, ICAA, is CEO Emeritus of Ruggles Mabe Studio, Denver. Author of Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture and producer of Built Beautiful, he serves as Director of Classical Studies at CU Denver, co-founded the Design/HEALth Initiative, and sits on multiple design and health boards.
- Minar Thapa Magar is a National Coordinator for the Sindh Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (SHRRP), supporting the Government of Sindh, Pakistan in rebuilding 2.1 million homes and recovering 50,000 settlements. As Technical Advisor at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), he brings 10+ years of experience in disaster recovery and reduction, shelter and housing, settlements approach, system strengthening and coordination.
- Ana Carolina Helena is an architect (WELL AP) with experience in private, public, and humanitarian sectors. Based in Luxembourg City with the Luxembourg Red Cross – Shelter Research Unit (SRU), supporting construction projects in Africa, Ukraine, and Nepal. Focused on sustainable, health-promoting architecture and its environmental, socio-economic, and public health co-benefits.
Facilitator
Dr. Devora Neumark is an interdisciplinary artist-researcher and co-founder of Home Ground Lab. With over 30 years of leadership in academia, policy, and creative practice, they advance beauty as essential infrastructure in displacement contexts, combining participatory art, contemplative practice, and policy to promote climate justice, community resilience, dignity, and social innovation.
About the series: Beauty, Art, Belonging & the Neuroscience of Place
Co-hosted by Home Ground Lab & Clark University’s Integration & Belonging Hub
Can beauty help people heal? Rebuild? Belong?
This three-part webinar series explores how beauty, art, and design intersect with neuroscience, dignity, and resilience—especially in contexts of displacement, housing insecurity, and humanitarian response. From refugee camps and post-disaster neighborhoods to communities painting their way back to belonging, this series reveals a radical truth: Beauty is not a luxury. Beauty is infrastructure. Each session brings together global experts in neuroaesthetics, refugee leaders, urban designers, and humanitarian practitioners.
