Perception-Based New-Formalism: Systematic Deliberation on the Psychology of Beauty in Architecture

Subject Areas : Theories and Architecture

Hossein Rezaei ^{1 *}

1 -

Received: 2025-09-25 Accepted : 2025-10-01 Published : 2025-09-21

Keywords: Aesthetics, New-Formalism, Form-Function Relationship, Meta-Function Paradigm, Environmental Psychology,

Abstract :

Human life in the context of the built environment has evolved in tandem with the gradual maturation of thought, acquiring diverse value systems. Humans possess an innate propensity for beauty, continuously striving to manifest it in their surroundings. Consequently, the concept of beauty holds a significant position in architecture. The perception of beauty in architectural spaces stimulates users' motivation, influencing their quality of life. Therefore, this study, employing an interpretive-comparative approach, reviews many studies in the field of aesthetics as a fundamental objective of environmental design. Utilizing qualitative content analysis and logical reasoning, this critique examines the theories in this domain. The aim is to re-examine the relationship between architectural form and environmental beauty as one of humanity's higher-order needs. The results indicate that, contrary to the viewpoint of formalist schools, which posit a minimal relationship between formal beauty and perception, architectural form plays the essential role in fulfilling various human needs, including beauty. It is achieved by accommodating expected functions and meta-functions and exerting an undeniable influence on perception. In other words, form fundamentally underpins the fulfillment of all user needs across different levels, from practical to symbolic, thereby contributing to the very definition of beauty. Accordingly, the role of a systematic design process, particularly architectural programming, is paramount. It enables purposeful ideation and aligns form with functional and meta-functional demands through strategic, solution-oriented scenarios. This approach facilitates the perception of beauty through a relative balance of sensation and intellect at every level.

 

 

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