Authors: Joseph Laudie
Mentors: Brandon Ro
Insitution: Utah Valley University
For an architect, choosing how simple and/or complex your designs are can be a difficult effort. It involves balancing various factors, including appearance, function, cost, time, context, etc. While one might state that a certain way is best, it can be difficult to know. For that purpose, this study will examine the question, “How does the perception of a space or structure change as it evolves from a simple to a more complex state?” The difference between these conditions may involve an increased presence of elements, such as motifs, ornaments, etc., gradually becoming more complex. These changes will be analyzed using eye-tracking software.
In contemporary architecture, architects grapple with multifaceted considerations. They must combine the varied desires of clients, adapt to evolving technology's possibilities and constraints, prioritize sustainability and efficiency, adhere to budget limitations, stay attuned to cultural and aesthetic trends, meet functional programming requirements, and navigate site-specific constraints. All these factors influence the architect's decision-making process, guiding them toward either simplicity or complexity in their design approach.
Because of the difficulty of this cumulative decision, the issue will be thoroughly examined to determine the true effect both simplistic and complex structures have on the everyday individual. This will be done by examining a single, 3-D-modeled room with progressively more complex states, involving more details such as windows, doors, and classical orders and elements. Photos of the respective conditions will be presented side by side and processed through eye-tracking software.
It is expected that more complex spaces and conditions will draw attention more consistently. While the analyzed space will present varying states of detail, it is expected that the more complex and expressive setting will consistently demand attention. This conclusion will better inform future design decisions by architects to make spaces more appealing and conducive to the observer.