Spaciousness and Emotional Responses to Curved Space Boundaries

Abstract

Properties like size, light, texture and color unite to make a composition to form a space. Various properties that affect people’s attitudes and emotions towards a space are critical issues that have an impact on people’s life quality. Quality of life is a concept related to cognitive and affective assessments that are based on the matching of one’s expectations with the properties of physical space. Therefore, an interior architect design spaces while concentrating on the properties of that space. The study explores the perceived spaciousness of a 3D virtual model with curved boundary types using a Head Mounted Display (HMD) to find out the influence of specific space properties (size, light, texture, and color) and to associate the relationship between spaciousness and emotional responses. The perceived spaciousness level of two-curved boundary types (horizontal and vertical) of interior spaces was analyzed with a HMD related to one of the specific properties varying in two levels of intensity; high and low. Sixteen different physical property spaces were designed to measure. Total of 128 participants assessed their emotional responses corresponding to three variables (pleasure, arousal, and dominance). The survey included both ranking and open-ended questions for each setting. According to the ranking results, perception of spaciousness was positively related with the curved boundaries and large size, bright light, lateral texture, and cool color of the spaces. In all specific properties, more spaciousness was perceived firstly in curved horizontal than vertical boundaries. Besides, curved boundaries evoked pleasing, satisfying, relaxed and happier emotional responses in perception of spaciousness of individuals. Also, according to the open-ended questions, three multiple-choice questions were provided in order to have an overall view of behavioral intention that were focused on time span, enjoyment and feel friendly level. As a result, the behavioral intentions (approach-avoidance behaviors) are different in the four settings in terms of specific properties. It is concluded that different, intensities of space properties could be used to control the amount of spaciousness level in interiors. Also, these levels provoke strong differences in emotional responses of individuals. Besides, designers and architects could use the findings to manipulate curvilinearity of the boundaries with many specific properties to provide a high level of perception of spaciousness.