Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

Movement Affects Environmental Appraisal: Towards an Episodic Approach to Environmental Design

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Author

Saleheh Bokharaei

Shahid Beheshti University

10.30475/isau.2025.435523.2121
Abstract
Awareness stems from assessing the environment. Studies show that physical characteristics of space and individual differences affect environmental appraisal. However, experimental studies on the effect of movement on environmental perception have been limited. The present study aimed to investigate how and to what extent movement affects judgment. Ten simulated animations were presented to 92 participants including 54 women and 38 men. Participants were asked to move from the first space to the destination and rate the size of the second space. The first space was manipulated in size, light, height, and visual permeability. In line with adaptation level theory, the results showed that movement affected the perceived size of the second space through the contrast effect. Other studies could manipulate primed stimuli to assess assimilation effect, as contrast effect prevailed over assimilation in this study. Designers could benefit from the results when diagramming architectural space. This study could contribute to designing environments based on an episodic approach.

Keywords

Space
Movement
Environmental Appraisal
Affective Meaning
Subjects
Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 23 July 2026

  • Receive Date 17 January 2024
  • Revise Date 24 August 2024
  • Accept Date 02 September 2024

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