Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Subjective and physiological responses towards daylit spaces with contemporary facade patterns in virtual reality: Influence of sky type, space function, and latitude
 
research article

Subjective and physiological responses towards daylit spaces with contemporary facade patterns in virtual reality: Influence of sky type, space function, and latitude

Chamilothori, K.  
•
Wienold, J.  
•
Moscoso, C.
Show more
August 1, 2022
Journal Of Environmental Psychology

Recent studies have shown that the facade and light patterns in a space are an important factor in the occupants' experience, but little is known about the generalizability of these findings in different lighting conditions, uses of space, or latitudes. This study employed virtual reality to investigate the effects of facade geometry and daylight patterns on space impressions and physiological responses (skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability), while simultaneously examining the effect of sky type, spatial context, and latitude on participant responses. In an experimental study conducted in Switzerland and Greece, 256 participants were exposed to immersive interior scenes with six facade geometry variations with the same perforation ratio, derived from contemporary architecture. Participants evaluated the scenes under different sky types (clear sky with high or low sun angle, or overcast sky) and spatial contexts (working or socializing). The facade geometry influenced both the appraisal (how pleasant, interesting, exciting, or calming the space was perceived) and the visual appearance of the space (how complex, bright, or spacious the space was perceived). Facade geometry also influenced the reported satisfaction with the amount of view, with a facade variation with small, irregularly distributed openings driving this effect. Neither the sky type nor the spatial context influenced space impressions. Results showed a significant effect of country and an interaction between country and facade geometry only for ratings of excitement, with participants in Greece rating specific facade variations as more exciting than participants in Switzerland. Skin conductance level (log Delta SCL) decreased under exposure to a social context in clear sky with a low sun angle compared to a working context in overcast sky conditions. No significant effects were found for the other physiological measures. The results of the present study show that facade geometry was the main driver of the participants' spatial experience, inducing perceptual effects that were robust to variations in sky type and space function and to regional differences (except for excitement). These findings have implications for the built environment, delineating the facade geometry as an important design tool with a high application potential across lighting conditions and space uses, and across latitudes between central and southern Europe.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101839
Web of Science ID

WOS:000829689200003

Author(s)
Chamilothori, K.  
Wienold, J.  
Moscoso, C.
Matusiak, B.
Andersen, M.  
Date Issued

2022-08-01

Publisher

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Published in
Journal Of Environmental Psychology
Volume

82

Article Number

101839

Subjects

Environmental Studies

•

Psychology, Multidisciplinary

•

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

•

Psychology

•

facade

•

geometry

•

daylight

•

pattern

•

perception

•

virtual reality

•

cognitive performance

•

preference

•

complexity

•

buildings

•

sunlight

•

architecture

•

kurtosis

•

skewness

•

features

•

beauty

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LIPID  
Available on Infoscience
August 15, 2022
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/190010
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés