Form follows emotion. Tailored design and regenerative approaches in healthcare environments

This paper explores the evolution of Interior Design, focusing on the role of empathy and the emotional impact of spatial design in healthcare settings. Beginning with the twentieth-century principle of form / follows / function, design has gradually integrated emotional dimensions, as demonstrated by various Made in Italy experiments since the 1950s. In this context, this contribution examines regenerative design through a multidisciplinary lens that incorporates neuroscience, environmental psychology, and spatial definition. The Santa Croce and Carle Hospital case study in Cuneo illustrates how the humanisation of care environments can enhance patients’ well-being and foster resilience. Within this framework, the paper positions design as a driving force in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to an improved quality of life, and increased social sustainability.