Leilani Irene is an architect and researcher exploring the intersection of material, emotion, and perception in the built environment. Her work focuses on how spatial and material systems influence cognitive and emotional responses, positioning architecture as both a physical and experiential medium.

She holds a Master of Science in Architecture, Built Environment Interiors from Politecnico di Milano and a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture. Her graduate thesis, Material Empathy: The Feeling of Matter, investigated how material archetypes shape human perception and emotional well-being. Through this research, she explored the integration of artificial intelligence, biometric data, and sensory analysis to better understand how individuals experience space.

Her experience spans interdisciplinary and international contexts, including her role as a Research Assistant at the Material Balance Research Lab in Milan. There, she contributed to the development of emotional AI and facial analysis systems, working with tools such as eye-tracking and galvanic skin response (GSR) to analyze user interaction with architectural materials and environments. Her work involved prototyping experimental installations, developing visual research frameworks, and translating complex data into spatial design strategies.

Following this, she gained experience at MatriScope Engineering Laboratories and Architectural Dimensions as an Architectural Intern, where she contributed to project documentation, material selection, and visual communication across residential and interior design projects, gaining hands-on experience in design development and collaborative workflows.

Leilani’s work is driven by a curiosity for how architecture can move beyond function to engage with human emotion and perception. She is particularly interested in bridging research and practice, integrating emerging technologies and material innovation to create environments that are deeply responsive to human experience.