Christoph Hölscher

Christoph Hölscher is a Full Professor and Chair of Cognitive Science at ETH Zurich, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. He is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London’s Bartlett School of Architecture / Space Syntax group and has held visiting positions at UC Santa Barbara. His work bridges cognitive science, architectural design, and human-computer interaction.

• PhD in Psychology, University of Freiburg (2000)
• Habilitation in Psychology, University of Freiburg (2009)
• Project Manager, IT Industry (2000–2003)

His research centers on spatial cognition, wayfinding in built environments, and usability in architectural design. He employs methods such as virtual reality, eye-tracking, and behavioral experiments to study how people navigate and interact with complex spaces. His work integrates cognitive psychology with urban planning and architecture to improve building legibility and user experience.

The most recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining cognitive science, urban systems, and virtual environments. Key themes include crowd simulation in emergencies, spatial reference frames in navigation, multi-level wayfinding challenges, and gaze behavior during spatial decisions. These studies often use immersive technologies and space syntax analysis to evaluate architectural configurations.

• Governing Board, Cognitive Science Society (since 2012)
• Board of Directors, SFB/TR8 Spatial Cognition (2007–2012)
• Co-chair, 33rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (2011)
• Co-chair, Spatial Cognition International Conference (2010)

Hölscher leads significant research initiatives connecting cognitive science with architectural practice. He has advised on evidence-based design, developed tools for recording spatial behavior (e.g., iPad apps), and promoted the use of personas in architectural design. His lab collaborates across disciplines, involving computer scientists, architects, and psychologists in projects focused on navigation support, spatial learning, and building usability. Future work appears to emphasize real-time spatial behavior analysis, integration of mobile technologies, and cross-modal perception in complex environments.