The impact of urban façade quality on affective feelings. (25th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hollander, Justin B.; Anderson, Eric C.
• Is Part Of: ArchNet-IJAR. Volume 14:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 232
• Publication Date: 2020-03-25
• Subjects: Psychology -- Edge conditions -- Urban facades -- New York City; Architecture -- Periodicals; Architectural design -- Periodicals; City planning -- Periodicals; Architecture -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Architectural design; Architecture; Architecture -- Environmental aspects; City planning; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 720.5
• DOI: 10.1108/ARCH-07-2019-0181
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2631-6862

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Much of the current literature on streetscape design emphasizes a need for well-articulated edge conditions to enhance pedestrian-orientation and the reason appears to lie in evolutionary biology: humans have a psychological preference for wall-hugging due to a well-established trait in other species: thigmotaxis. Design/methodology/approach: This study seeks to explore the relationship between urban facades and affective feelings through an empirical study, which asks: how do people perceive edge conditions in urban environments? Through a study of affect relative to edge conditions, greater insight can be generated as to the human experience in the built environment. We conducted a laboratory experiment with 76 subjects who each viewed 40 images of urban facades and rated each based on their emotional reaction. Findings: Each subject also completed two validated individual trait difference measures. We found that those images depicting thigmotaxic facades were more highly rated than other facades. Originality/value: High quality edge environment resulted in people feeling more pleasant than low quality edges.