An Explanation of Solutions to Promote theVisual Quality of Kitchen Residential Spaces Based on the Basics of Visual Ecology (Video-ecology)

Subject Areas : Life Space Journal

mohammad hossein javanmardi ¹ ( Ph.D. Student; Department of Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran )
Tahereh Nasr ² ( Ph.D. in Urban Planning ,Associate Professor; Department of Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran )
Jamal-e-Din MahdiNejad ³ ( Associate Prof. in Department of Architecture ,Shahid Rajaei Teacher Training University ,(SRTTU), Iran )

Received: 2023-03-27 Accepted : 2023-06-18 Published : 2024-05-02

Keywords: house, visual perception, visual ecology, kitchens,

Abstract :

Images received from the surrounding environment in the form of visual perception greatly contribute to the human-environment relationship and satisfaction with his residence. Recent studies demonstrate that the matching of images received from the surrounding environment with physiological and vision standards could increase peoples’ sense of satisfaction and the visual quality of their living spaces. Thus, the core subject was to develop solutions to increase the visual quality of living spaces, such as kitchens. The study hypothesized that the components of visual quality, including symmetry, rhythm, the type of line forms, the type of materials, proportions and scales, and color and light contrasts affect users’ satisfaction and the visual quality of the environment. Independent variables of the study included the components that affected the visual quality of the environment, while the dependent variable of the study was users’ satisfaction and inclination, and consequently the visual quality of the environment. The study method fell under quantitative and qualitative research, and the study approach was correlational, which evaluated the components of visual quality related to the physiological mechanism of vision in the kitchen environment in houses. Data were collected by library studies and questionnaires. In general, the study aimed to explain solutions to improve the visual quality of residential kitchen spaces using the basics of visual ecology. The theoretical framework of the study was founded on five physiological mechanisms of vision, including on - and off-systems, reflection function, saccadic automation, spatial frequency, and binocular vision, as the most important indicators affecting the visual quality of a residential environment were based on the views of researchers and theorists. Questionnaire results were analyzed by Photoshop, SPSS, and MATLAB digital image processing software. The findings indicated that in all fronts of the kitchen, people were inclined to unbroken simple, and curved forms and lines. Concerning the component of rhythm, the results indicated that except for the kitchen’s ceiling, as regards the remaining fronts, people were mostly inclined to an image with a rhythm in an x-y axis direction, which may be due to the vertical and horizontal axes being in one direction with the vision system standards and the observer’s angle of vision in line with the binocular vision and saccadic mechanisms. Findings from the component of symmetry also demonstrated that in all five fronts of the kitchen environment, people were mostly inclined to a highly symmetrical image in an axial direction, which may be due to less disturbance at the point of gravity of each form relative to another and visual uniformity and comfort because of the frequency and mutations created based on points of gravity in line with the saccadic mechanism in each image. Concerning proportions in all kitchen fronts, people were mostly inclined to golden proportions because of the human’s range of vision. Concerning the component of materials, people were mostly inclined to the front at which the gas stove and cabinet surface were located, with the front of the dish-washing sink and the cabinet surface seeing a mixture of fully natural materials such as wood, semi-artificial and natural materials. This may be due to the theory of Reflection Function and the more appropriate natural surfaces and textures compared to artificial materials in terms of visual physiology. Also, on the wall front between the cabinet in the back of the stove and the dish-washing sink, people were mostly inclined to use semi-artificial and semi-natural materials such as ceramics and PVC wall covering. Concerning the component of environmental color contrasts, findings showed that people’s inclination at the front of the stove, cabinet surface, and dish-washing sink was directed at applying colors with moderate and high color contrasts because of the need for sharp-sightedness, non-uniformity, and visual fatigue, which would help perform daily activities in the kitchen in line with the on- and off-system principles. Also, at the wall front between the cabinet in the back of the stove and the sink, people were mostly inclined to apply colors with low color contrast to maintain visual comfort and visual concentration over the stove and the sink surfaces. As well, people were mostly inclined to use curved window forms with moderate rises because of the greater activity of the anterior cingulate cortex and the on- and off-systems mechanism.