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Surface location and enclosure.

Arthur E Stamps1

  • 1Institute of Environmental Quality, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|July 11, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Vertical boundaries significantly impact enclosure perception more than overhead ones. This study reveals how visual cues, like the amount of view covered, influence our sense of being enclosed in various environments.

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Effects of boundary height and horizontal size within boundary on perceived enclosure.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Psychology
  • Visual Perception
  • Architectural Psychology

Background:

  • Understanding enclosure perception is crucial for designing comfortable and functional spaces.
  • Previous research has explored various factors influencing spatial perception, but the specific impact of boundary types remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the amount of view covered by vertical boundaries or the presence of an overhead boundary more strongly influences the perception of enclosure.
  • To quantify the effect sizes of different boundary configurations on enclosure judgments.

Main Methods:

  • Three studies were conducted with a total of 48 stimuli (balconies, swamps, space stations) and 142 respondents.
  • Respondents judged the degree of enclosure for various visual scenes.
  • Effect sizes were calculated for variables including boundaries below, in front, at the sides, and the total amount of view covered by any boundary.

Main Results:

  • Judged enclosure showed a strong positive correlation (r = .80) with the amount of view covered by vertical boundaries.
  • A weaker correlation (r = .42) was found between judged enclosure and the presence or absence of overhead boundaries.
  • Vertical boundaries were found to be a more significant factor in enclosure perception than overhead boundaries (alpha < .001).

Conclusions:

  • The perception of enclosure is predominantly influenced by vertical visual boundaries rather than overhead ones.
  • The amount of view obstructed by vertical elements is a key determinant of how enclosed a space feels.
  • These findings have implications for architectural design and the psychological impact of spatial configurations.

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