Multisensory Design Approaches in Contemporary Interiors

This paper examines the evolution of multisensory design methodologies in interior architecture and design, focusing on approaches that foreground sensory experience as a primary design driver rather than a secondary aesthetic concern. Building on architectural phenomenology and the seminal concept of Design Primario developed by Italian designer Clino Trini Castelli in the 1970s, the discussion traces how attention to immaterial and perceptual qualities – such as light, sound, texture, microclimate, and scent – has reshaped both design processes and representational tools. The paper then expands the notion of the sensorium beyond the traditional five senses, incorporating vestibular, proprioceptive, thermal, temporal, and social dimensions of spatial experience. Biophilic and inclusive sensory design are presented as two methodological frameworks that operationalize multisensory thinking in ethically and socially responsive ways. Finally, the contribution of contemporary technologies, including virtual reality, multisensory simulation, and neurophysiological measurement, is examined alongside empirical evidence linking multisensory environments to psychological and physical well-being. Neurodiversity is introduced as a critical perspective through which to consider interior design, acknowledging that the heterogeneity of sensory, cognitive, and attentional profiles require adaptive, flexible environments rather than universal solutions. Overall, the paper argues that multisensory design constitutes a paradigm shift in which interiors are conceived as dynamic sensory ecosystems with measurable effects on human behaviour, cognition, and health.