Factors Affecting Perceived Naturalness in Urban Environments
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Huang, Yu-Hsuan
Abstract
Many researchers have shown that visual elements have been widely used for evaluating naturalness. However, the perceived naturalness of the environments is cultural and social constructed. Based on the concept of cultured nature, the main purpose of this study is to identify elements that influence humans’ perceived naturalness in urban environments, and to understand the relationship between elements and humans’ perceived naturalness. Volunteer‐employed photography method and content analysis were used in study1. All participants were asked to take photos in several places where they though it is natural. After receiving the returns of photos, the contents of these photos were categorized. The findings indicated that there are two categories have effect on perceived naturalness. One is visual elements, and the other is non-visual elements. Based on the results of study1, an online survey was conducted to investigate the dimensions and meanings of perceived naturalness in study2. Factor analysis was used to categorize the photos with similar considerations of naturalness. The findings showed that there were three main factors. The first factor was the facet and volume of building, the second was the familiarity of the environments, and the environment with natural elements was the last factor. Study3 was to test the specific elements which have effect on perceived naturalness based on the results of study1 and study2. Through a photo-based online survey, all elements were manipulated and compared. The results revealed that there were four elements have positive effect on perceived naturalness, including flowers, farmland, old elements, and plastic pink flamingo. The current study suggests that people perceived environmental naturalness from different sources, including physical and abstract factors. The results will contribute to our understanding of natural environment. It will also improve the way we design and manage environment if we can control the meanings of these elements, such as healthy, rural, and old materials.
Subjects
natural
artificial
cultured nature
perceived naturalness
SDGs
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