​Phyllium is a building design project located in Manchester, UK. It explores a proposed methodology that combines two types of assessment to evaluate design in relation to human experience and sustainability. The project creates an initial “proof of concept” of this approach, by:
1. utilising virtual reality (VR) and sensor (EEG, GSR, Heart Rate and Temperature) technology to measure alpha-type brainwaves, associated with relaxation, heart rate, temperature and electrodermal activity in the presence of green and urban views, alongside
2. a custom-made computational tool that evaluates the ecological impact of various design options based on a given site’s microclimatic conditions and the photosynthetic carbon assimilation potential of the plant types that are used on the surfaces of proposed volumetric designs.
The combination of these assessments is then used to identify and develop suitable designs for a Manchester-based business incubator facility.