Emotionally-oriented design in museums: a case study of the Jewish Museum Berlin

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Architectural empathy
• Museum studies

Background:

• Memorial museums play a crucial role in shaping visitor experiences.
• Understanding the psychological impact of architectural design is vital for effective museum curation.
• The Jewish Museum Berlin offers unique spatial elements for studying visitor affect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between architectural design elements and visitor emotional responses.
• To analyze how specific spaces within the Jewish Museum Berlin elicit varied affective experiences.
• To contribute to the discourse on environmental psychology and architectural empathy in memorial contexts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a non-intrusive approach to collect emotional data from 113 museum visitors.
• Administered the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to gauge affective states.
• Quantitatively measured environmental factors (light, sound, spatial design) and correlated them with visitor emotions.

Main Results:

• Architectural elements significantly influenced visitor emotional responses.
• The Holocaust Tower induced fear and anxiety due to low light and stark design.
• The Garden of Exile promoted positive emotions through natural light and greenery, highlighting biophilic design benefits.

Conclusions:

• Architectural design actively shapes visitor emotional involvement and engagement.
• Emotionally-oriented design strategies can deepen the impact of historical narratives.
• Museum environments possess a transformative power in influencing visitor perceptions and interactions.