The effect of the meaning of buildings on behaviour

The development of three semantic scales to appraise the physical environment is described. The scales were generated from the reactions of subjects to drawings but it is shown that the scales are valid in real situations. Using these scales the authors demonstrate how features of buildings can be assessed, and the importance which two groups of subjects assign to these variables can be revealed. From a further study, into the behavioural effects of two different rooms, a hypothesis is suggested about the appropriateness of physical setting for an activity.