The concept of ‘healthy space’ has often been fragmented, focusing on isolated indicators such as air quality, lighting, or subjective comfort. This study introduces the Healthy Space Index (HSI), a data-driven model integrating environmental, physiological, and psychological dimensions into a single 0–100 score. 266 participants experienced real or virtual replicas of four environments (nature, library, office, hospital), with multimodal data collected (EEG, HRV, EDA, blood pressure, environmental metrics, validated scales). Results showed consistent patterns: restorative environments (nature, library) supported autonomic regulation, cortical relaxation, and positive affect, while load-intensive ones (office, hospital) heightened stress, cognitive burden, and negative affect. VR reproduced directional but weaker effects, highlighting the primacy of multisensory real-world conditions. A classroom case study demonstrated practical value, with targeted interventions improving HSI from 40 (unhealthy) to 58 (moderate-healthy). Unlike WELL or LEED, which primarily assess design compliance and environmental performance, the HSI complements existing frameworks by capturing the biological and psychological responses of occupants to built environments.
İlker Erkan (Mon,) studied this question.