Interior Architectural Facades: A Study into the Visual Impact on Emotional Experience

Authors

Bailey Gocke, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Comments

A Design Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Architecture, Major: Architecture, Under the Supervision of Professor David Newton. Lincoln, Nebraska: May 2023

Copyright © 2023 Bailey Gocke

Abstract

Emotion is a vital process in which the body interprets environmental stimuli and generates a corresponding bodily response. The interpretation of stimuli determines the emotional reactions experienced by individuals, making it crucial for designers to influence these interpretations and subsequent reactions. Architectural facades, both interior and exterior, have a significant impact on the user's perception and overall experience of a building. However, limited research exists on the integration of emotion research in architecture, particularly regarding the study of facades and emotions.

To address this critical research gap, this thesis aims to investigate the emotional impact of interior facade conditions on users. The study will focus on four parameters: pattern predictability, scale of pattern, degree of detail, and visibility of an image. An experimental process will be developed, incorporating virtual reality (VR) testing spaces and EEG brainwave scans, which have been widely used in the sciences but are relatively unexplored in the design field until recent years.

The project will yield a methodology and workflow for designing, testing, and studying the emotional impact of interior facade conditions. Additionally, a data analysis strategy will be established for future research. The results obtained from the parameter testing will contribute to a collection of "rule-of-thumb" guidelines that can supplement existing findings from previous studies on color, geometry, and lighting. Ultimately, this research will enhance the knowledge base surrounding facade and emotion research in the design field, providing valuable insights for architects and designers to create emotionally impactful interior spaces.