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Using psychology and architecture to improve wellbeing in vulnerable communities - Research and Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024
As part of our Research and Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024, we are proud to share a series of blog posts celebrating our award nominees. In this post, Zaid Alawamleh, Lecturer in Architecture and PhD researcher in the Leeds School of Architecture, shares his innovative work, combining psychology and neuroscience into architectural design, which has led to his nomination in the Local Champion category.
Zaid Alawamleh is a Humanitarian Architect, doctoral researcher, and Lecturer in Architecture. He has been advancing the integration of psychology and neuroscience into architectural design. His research, particularly through developing the Behaviour Settings Transformation Methodology (BSTM), is centred on improving the wellbeing and spatial behaviour of refugee and vulnerable communities by creating spaces that reflect their needs and foster social resilience.
The BSTM was recently recognised by the United Nations for its innovative, human-centred, and behaviour-change design principles - which have been implemented in transformative projects within long-standing refugee camps.
His research has also been published as a novel architectural methodology in the prestigious Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society - the same journal that featured the groundbreaking works of Darwin and Newton.
We spoke to Zaid to find out more about his innovative research and the impact it is having on refugee and vulnerable communities.
Zaid Alawamleh
Hi Zaid, what inspires your work, and what has been the most rewarding aspect of it?
My work has been consistently inspired by the resilience and strength found within the communities I serve, especially in refugee settings. Through my research, I have spent time living and working in a refugee camp for fieldwork purposes, allowing me to engage directly with the community and enrich the methodology through hands-on partnership and active collaboration.
This approach has empowered individuals in these challenging environments to reclaim a sense of identity and agency. Witnessing the pride and connection that community members feel toward the spaces they co-designed has been one of the most rewarding outcomes of the BSTM approach.
Using illustrated cards showing everyday activities, a child organises his daily routine as part of a diagnostic tool for observing behaviour patterns.
How do you feel your work has contributed to building a stronger research community at LBU, and a wider impact on society?
The BSTM has fostered a stronger interdisciplinary research interest across architecture, psychology, and neuroscience among students and staff at Leeds Beckett University. Architecture students have been introduced to the significant role architecture plays in shaping user behaviour, applying these concepts in their design projects and dissertations.
Beyond academia, the BSTM has redefined the approach to space in vulnerable communities, encouraging a shift towards inclusive design that prioritizes dignity and social justice. The methodology’s recognition by the United Nations and adoption by global institutions highlights its broader societal impact, offering a sustainable model for future humanitarian projects.
Collaborative housing rehabilitation project with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and SAIB NGO, aimed at implementing the BSTM methodology in a refugee camp setting.
What advice or top tips do you have for fellow researchers in your field?
My key piece of advice is to keep the behaviour of people at the heart of the design process - let it guide the beginning, shape the journey, and allow the design to emerge naturally.
It is so important to prioritise behaviour over assumptions about what people might say they want, and ensure that the design is truly aligned with real needs. Approaching design as a collaborative partnership allows the community’s lived experiences to steer the process, enhancing relevance and sustainability.
Flexibility is also essential, as each community brings unique needs that require an adaptable, behaviour-centred approach to create spaces that support both functionality and transformative growth.
You can connect with Zaid on LinkedIn.
Co-Design workshop led by the users - refugees - bringing all involved parties to collaborate closely.
