Hello, I’m Yunni Cho. I’m based in Lausanne, Switzerland, where I recently earned a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the Laboratory of Integrated Performance in Design (LIPID). My interdisciplinary background includes a B.F.A. in Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and dual B.A. degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience and Urban Studies from Brown University, completed through the Brown RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD). My research explores the dynamic interplay between space, daylight, and human perception, focusing on how architectural environments influence visual attention and emotional experiences. Drawing from my architectural training, I aim to create spaces deeply connected to their cultural and historical contexts, while my studies in neuroscience and urban theory help me examine how people perceive, experience, and remember these environments. Art and design serve as my languages for articulating these ideas, bridging theory and practice. Building on this foundation, I now lead the BRIDGE proof-of-concept project “Dynamic Therapeutic Environments: Innovating Psychiatric Care through Nature-Integrated Design,” which unites psychiatric hospitals, cultural associations, and academic partners in Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium to develop open-access guidelines that demonstrate how moving plants, fluctuating daylight, and interactive landscapes can lower patient stress and reduce readmission rates. This website is a curated portfolio reflecting my passion for integrating space, time, and light to craft meaningful and impactful environments.
