The Role of Symmetry in the Aesthetics of Residential Building Façades Using Cognitive Science Methods

Symmetry

Reza Ebrahimpour¹  Hamidreza Azemati²  Fatemeh Jam²  Abdolhamid Ghanbaran²  Matthias Dehmer³  Modjtaba Ghorbani⁴  Frank Emmert-Streib⁵ 

[1] Cognitive Science Research Laboratory, Department of Computer Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Lavizan, Tehran 16788-15811, Iran;Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Urban Design, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Lavizan, Tehran 16788-15811, Iran;Department of Computer Science, Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences, 3900 Brig, Switzerland;Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Lavizan, Tehran 16788-15811, Iran;Predictive Medicine and Analytics Lab., Department of Signal Processing, Tampere University of Technology, 33720 Tampere, Finland;

关键词: façade;    aesthetics;    eye tracking;    expertise;    symmetry;   

DOI  :  10.3390/sym12091438

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Symmetry is an important visual feature for humans and its application in architecture is completely evident. This paper aims to investigate the role of symmetry in the aesthetics judgment of residential building façades and study the pattern of eye movement based on the expertise of subjects in architecture. In order to implement this in the present paper, we have created images in two categories: symmetrical and asymmetrical façade images. The experiment design allows us to investigate the preference of subjects and their reaction time to decide about presented images as well as record their eye movements. It was inferred that the aesthetic experience of a building façade is influenced by the expertise of the subjects. There is a significant difference between experts and non-experts in all conditions, and symmetrical façades are in line with the taste of non-expert subjects. Moreover, the patterns of fixational eye movements indicate that the horizontal or vertical symmetry (mirror symmetry) has a profound influence on the observer’s attention, but there is a difference in the points watched and their fixation duration. Thus, although symmetry may attract the same attention during eye movements on façade images, it does not necessarily lead to the same preference between the expert and non-expert groups.

【 授权许可】

Unknown