Not what we think: sensate machines for rewiring

The design of programmed spatio-material environments can be conceptualized as providing new stimuli with which to rewire the human brain in the context of architectural design. The plasticity of the brain is now recognised by neuroscience -- the brain can be teased to inform, continually learn and restructure itself. As a driver for stimuli that rewire behavioural and cognitive patterns, a cognitive architecture 4EA approach is employed ('embodied, embedded, enacted, extended, affected') to inform the design of digitally manufactured and interactive prototype environments that become sensate machines. We introduce a 4EA design framework, combining approaches from computational architectural design, human-computer interaction and choreography, for the design of environments in which novel cognitive experiences arise from interaction between network components. A series of creative works from the Black Project is presented as case studies exemplifying our 4EA design framework, furthering investigations into how to collaboratively design, manufacture and choreograph sensate machines for rewiring cognition through creative engagement by performers and audience alike.