Architecture and Human Emotional Experience: A Framework for Studying Spatial Experiences: Egypt as a case study

Abstract

One of the primary challenges in assessing the influence of architectural design elements on human emotional experience is determining which elements can promptly capture people's attention within a space and understanding the nature of the impact these elements have on individuals. This study addresses a key obstacle in comprehending the effect of architectural design elements on human emotions. The objective is to identify elements that stand out to people and immediately engage their attention in a given space, examining how these elements contribute to the overall emotional experience in those spaces. Employing a survey framework, findings from a representative sample of 75 participants in Egypt indicate that specific elements, such as spatial scale and openness, the presence of windows and natural daylighting, adaptability of the space for isolation or social interaction, artificial lighting levels, and spatial density, can significantly influence human emotional experience. While these insights provide valuable guidance for design decision-making, it's important to note that the study focused on Egypt and gathered experiences from participants in that specific cultural context. Despite this focus, the framework has the potential for cross-cultural application, establishing a basis for objective evaluations of architectural design elements across diverse cultural and regional settings.

Keywords

• architectural design elements
• human emotional experience
• survey framework
• emotional impact
• spatial experience quantification