Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement

Teng Fei; Yiqing Liu; Jianchun Guo

doi:10.3390/buildings12070930

Fei, Teng;Liu, Yiqing;Guo, Jianchun

2022-06-30 00:00:00

buildings Article Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 2 3 Teng Fei *, Yiqing Liu and Jianchun Guo School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; 20b334003@stu.hit.edu.cn Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China Architectural Design and Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; guojianchun93@163.com * Correspondence: feiteng@hit.edu.cn; Tel.: +86-0451-8628-1166 Abstract: In current architectural practice projects, the external visual image presented by many buildings ignores the interpretation of the environment and the local context, as well as the emotional feeling of people in visual cognition. At present, some indicators in the ﬁeld of architectural design can be analyzed quantitatively, but the evaluation criteria related to vision remain in the stage of relying on experience and feeling so that the design result cannot be controlled accurately. This article reports the study of the inﬂuence of building distribution form and the ratio of the shorter side to longer side of building blocks (the S/L ratio) on the visual integration relationship between buildings and the natural environment, based on eye-tracker experiments. Six actual completed projects were chosen for evaluation in two experiments. This study uses eye-tracking recorded data to investigate the inﬂuence of two elements (the distribution of building blocks and the S/L ratio of building blocks) on the visual integration relationship of buildings and environment. It provides a theoretical approach that helps to improve architects’ building-design practices when working in Citation: Fei, T.; Liu, Y.; Guo, J. different natural environments. Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Keywords: visual expression; integration; distribution of building blocks; the ratio of the shorter side Environment Based on Eye to longer side of building blocks; eye-movement experiment Movement. Buildings 2022, 12, 930. https://doi.org/10.3390/ buildings12070930 Academic Editor: Isaac Guedi 1. Introduction Capeluto The relationship between building and the natural environment has always been a popular issue in the construction industry. In recent years, with the improvement of Received: 25 April 2022 people’s living standards and aesthetic tastes, the lifestyle attitude of returning to nature Accepted: 23 June 2022 has become the goal that people pursue. Therefore, an increasing number of rural buildings Published: 30 June 2022 have emerged to meet people’s spiritual needs. The visual expression of a building in Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral the natural environment has become the focus of scholars, and a large number of studies with regard to jurisdictional claims in concerning the function and form of architectural space, as well as the relationship between published maps and institutional afﬁl- the material and colour of the building’s façade and the natural environment, have also iations. emerged in the specialized ﬁeld of building [1]. However, there are still some shortcomings in today’s architectural practices, such as too much attention to images and the pursuit of individuality, which lead to visual separation between building and the environment, and the cointegration of visual images caused by far-fetched collocation and the application Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. of architectural language. Most of the current research on visual expression focuses on Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. perceptual cognition, with few objective studies on the visual cognition process supported This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and by data. Therefore, this study tries to explore the visual integration relationship between conditions of the Creative Commons buildings and their natural environment through eye-movement behaviour capture. Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Buildings 2022, 12, 930. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070930 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings Buildings 2022, 12, 930 2 of 20 2. Literature Review 2.1. Relationship between Visual Perception and Architectural Representation Visual perception studies the physiological behaviour of vision and the cognitive behaviour in which the vision interprets and judges information when it is received [2]. Light is reﬂected from an object through the lenses of the eye to reach the retina. Then rod and cone cells are stimulated to release split-second chemical reactions converting the light to electrical impulses. After that, electrical impulses are transmitted to the brain. Finally, they are interpreted in the visual cortex and inﬂuenced by emotions, experiences, and habits of mind [3]. Visual perception is one of the most important feelings when people collect and feedback on external information. Currently, many studies on architectural expression are based on the theory of visual perception. Through the review of previous literature, the theory of visual perception has long been applied in the design strategy of regulating the relationship between building and the environment. At ﬁrst, Arnheim [4] believed that the perception of vision is a process in which the cerebral cortex converts visual stimuli into an organized whole, namely, the physiological force pattern, according to certain rules. Related studies have been increasing year by year, for example, the studies by A. Sussman and J. B. Hollander [5], H. Ogce et al. [6], and M. Jiang et al. [7] (Table 1). They proved that the relationship between building and the environment could be studied based on the principle of visual perception. Table 1. Literature review of the relationship between visual perception and architectural representation. No. Title Author Year Research Content This book explores 10 aspects of vision in art: balance, shape, form, development, space, light, Art and Visual Perception: color, movement, tension, and expression. 1 A Psychology of the R. Arnheim 1974 Applying Gestalt psychology to the analysis of Creative Eye visual art, this paper offers many valuable insights. This article summarizes the analysis of several Cognitive Architecture: architectural cases and outlines the CA Designing for How We 2 A. Sussman, J. B. Hollander 2021 (Cognitive Architecture) principles, which Respond to the illustrate how humans adapt to the built Built Environment. environment from a cognitive perspective. This article takes 24 different photographs and examines the reactions to them by an expert and Visual impact assessment H. Ögçe, H. Müderrisoglu, ˘ 3 2019 a public sample group. After that, they evaluate of the Istanbul Land-wall. and S. Uzun the visual impact of the Istanbul Land-wall and contribute to future design/planning stages. This article examines the physiological (electroencephalography (EEG)) and Effects of different psychological (the semantic differential method landscape visual stimuli on M. Jiang, A. Hassan, Q. (SDM) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory 4 psychophysiological 2019 Chen, and Y. Liu (STAI)) responses of adults viewing different responses in landscape pictures. They ﬁnd out that different Chinese students. landscape pictures have psychophysiological relaxation effects on adults. Observations were made on the different visual-perception behaviours formed by the stimulation of a speciﬁc psychological state and product in the minds of participating observers. These identiﬁable visual-perception behaviours were used to provide scientiﬁc data to support an analysis of the psychological activities in the minds of participating observers. These experimental observations enable us to establish a connection between hu- man visual perception and architectural visual performance. They also made it possible for us to conduct in-depth research on the relationship between a building and its surrounding environment from the perspective of visual perception (in cognitive psychology). Buildings 2022, 12, 930 3 of 20 2.2. Visual Integration between Building and the Natural Environment The visual representation of buildings and the natural environment is the focus of this research. The relevant research in architecture has always been from the perspective of theory and practice. From the landscape style of English gardens in the late 18th century to the Arts and Crafts Movement in the late 19th century [8], the relationship between building and the natural environment has been gradually considered by architects. After the 1930s, architects criticized the “international style” in which building was visually detached from the environment and focused more on the visual integration between building and the natural environment [8]. Until the 1970s, the research theory in this ﬁeld gradually became thorough and systematic [7]. McHarg [9] explained the close relationship between man and nature in his book Design and Nature, which put forward a planning approach based on ecological concepts. Hasegawa [10] believes that both humans and buildings belong to the Earth’s ecosystem, and the building is a kind of man-made natural scenery. Kuma et al. [11,12] proposed in his two books, Negative Architecture and Anti- Shape—Architecture Connected with Nature, that buildings should not be separated from the environment but should reconcile the two and make people feel the warmth and softness of the building. In his book Anti-Architecture, Ito [13] subverted the conventional understanding of building, such as functionalism, and pointed out that building was the medium of coordination between humans and the natural environment. These architectural views with oriental aesthetic thoughts enrich the theoretical system of architectural creation in the natural context and promote the dynamic development of architectural practice toward a more sustainable direction. At present, how to better integrate buildings and the natural environment from the perspective of visual expression still needs further research. However, most of the previous related studies were from the perspective of theory and lacked objective discussion from the perspective of experiments. Objective experiments can provide more scientiﬁc and speciﬁc data, and the visual integration effect of building and the natural environment can be evaluated more accurately and rationally through experiments. Therefore, it is of positive and profound signiﬁcance to supplement the research on the visual integration relationship between buildings and the natural environment from the perspective of experiments. 2.3. Factors Inﬂuencing the Visual Representation of Building in the Natural Environment Regarding the visual performance effect of building in the natural environment, rele- vant scholars mostly study the material, colour, and structure of building in the natural environment from the perspectives of perception, humanity, and technology. Such books include The Eyes of the Skin [14], Atmosphere [15], and Materials, Forms, and Architecture [16]. There is no doubt that these studies are important, but the architectural form is also im- portant for visual expression. Firstly, through literature research, this article found that the building block’s proportions and the building block’s distribution greatly impact the building’s visual expression. For example, studies by T. Hamlin [17], F. K. Ching [18], Y. Y. Ren [19], and others (Table 2), have argued for the importance of these two factors on the visual expression of buildings. Secondly, the studies by Y. Chen [20] and T. Yu et al [21] (Table 2) further argue that the distribution of the building has a great inﬂuence on the visual expression of the building. Once again, analyzing the literature on architectural proportions, we found the studies focus on the relationship between the height and width of building outline. For example, J. R. Zhou [22] (Table 2) analyzed the ratio of the diagonal of the building block to the bottom edge of the building, Z. Zhao [23] (Table 2) analyzed the relationship between the height of waterfront building groups and the waterfront line, and J. D. Rounds [24] (Table 2) analyzed the height-to-width ratio of buildings. Although they describe the objects of study differently, they are all attempting to describe the re- lationship between the length-to-slenderness ratio of buildings. Therefore, this article identiﬁes the study of building proportions by examining the length-to-slenderness ratio of the building block. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 4 of 20 Table 2. Literature review of factors inﬂuencing the visual representation of building in the natural environment. No. Title Author Year Research Content The principles of architectural beauty (unity, balance, Forms and Functions of proportion, scale, rhythm, character, style, etc.) are used to 20th Century 1 T. Hamlin 1952 explain the connotations of architectural beauty and the Architecture: The relationship between structure, materials, and Principles of Composition architectural form. This article uses drawings to show the relationship between the basic elements of buildings. Exploring relationships Architecture: Form, between points, lines, planes, volumes, and other elements, 2 F. K. Ching 1996 Space and Order it summarizes the regularity of architectural form, space and order and reﬂects the intention of studying architectural form in relation to principles of morphology. This article analyzes the inﬂuence of vernacular buildings on The research on the the visual environment of the natural landscape in the evaluation of visual Guanzhong region from the perspective of behavioral and environment quality of psychological preference. It uses Analytic Hierarchy Process 3 vernacular landscape in Y. Y. Ren 2019 analysis to determine the inﬂuence of the distribution, Guanzhong region based layout, color, and material of the building on the visual on behavioral environment, based on which we propose a renovation psychological preference design strategy for the distribution and layout of the building. Based on the correlation between building layout and the The research on the visual visual order of street building space, this paper points out order of building plan 4 Y. Chen, H. M. Yan 2021 the critical inﬂuence of building layout on the visual order of layout form and street street building space and proposes corresponding building space design strategies. Through investigations, this article studies people’s visual Research on the iconic perceptual elements in architectural clusters. Then it clariﬁes creation strategy of and analyses the relationship between the ﬁgure base and 5 architectural clusters T. Yu 2019 architectural creation. Finally, it proposes a design approach based on that should be based on the function, scale, and environment visual-perception theory of the architectural cluster. This article uses photographs as samples to explore the relationship between public preference and quantitative A study on the control of control indicators of building complex contour lines in a architectural group mountain context. It is found that ﬁve quantitative control 6 contours in the context of J. R. Zhou 2018 indicators have a strong inﬂuence on the value of public mountains with visual preference, and they are suggested as a single quantitative perceptual preferences control indicator affecting the value of public preference, and design strategies are proposed accordingly. This article uses the line of sight analysis method to analyze Research on the proportion of waterfront buildings in terms of three building-height control elements: view characteristics, sight distance characteristics 7 planning around urban Z. Zhao 2013 and building shading relationships. It proposes a method of parks based on height control for waterfront buildings so that the buildings sightline analysis in a waterfront environment may have a better visual effect. This article developed a research platform using a virtual environment and electroencephalography (EEG) to better Using posterior EEG understand the neural processes associated with landmark theta band to assess the J. D. Rounds, J. G. usage and recognition during urban navigation tasks. It effects of architectural 8 Cruz-Garza, and S. 2020 found that highly salient architectural features—those that designs on landmark Kalantari. contrast sharply with the surrounding environment—are recognition in an more likely to attract visual attention, remain in short-term urban setting memory, and activate brain regions associated with way-ﬁnding when compared with non-salient buildings. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 5 of 20 2.4. Eye-Movement Behaviour and Architectural Visual Representation The eye-movement system is closely related to visual perception. Since most people’s behaviour and activities cannot be separated from visual perception, eye movement can provide an effective information source for relevant research. Eye movements are now widely used to study information processing tasks, such as reading, scene perception, and visual search. In scene perception and visual search, the ﬁxation time, ﬁxation track, and the number of ﬁxation points observed by eye-trackers have become important indicators for research. The observation and analysis of eye movement using eye-tracking in the West began in Arabia in the 10th century [25]. Al-Haytham [26] wrote the world’s ﬁrst physiological optics book, Kitabal al Manazir [27], which mainly introduced the structure of the eye and the visual system from the perspective of anatomy [27]. The study of eye movements remained dormant until the 19th century when eye-movement experiments began to develop again. Bell and Müller [28], founders of modern physiology, developed the ﬁeld of eye-movement research by carrying out an accurate analysis of the individual’s characteristics [28]. In recent decades, many scholars have studied eye-movement be- haviour. Eye-movement tracking has been widely used in the visual evaluation of graphic and advertising design to measure the allocation of visual attention to stimuli [29], as in the studies by J. H. Choi et al. [30], H. Liu [31], Z. Zhang [32], and L. Zhang [33] (Table 3). Observing eye-movement behaviour with eye-trackers can quantify visual cognition, gen- erate quantitative data of individual visual ﬁxation behaviour, evaluate the rational factors behind visual behaviour, and explain how visual representation under various architectural organization principles could act on people’s psychological world [34]. Therefore, it is of great signiﬁcance to study the visual performance of buildings in the natural environment through eye-trackers. Table 3. Literature review of eye-movement behaviour and architectural visual representation. No. Title Author Year Research Content Investigation of human eye pupil sizes as a measure of visual This article analyzed the impact of lighting colour 1 sensation in the workplace J.-H. Choi 2016 temperature on visual perception in the working environment with a highlighting environment through experiments on pupil size. colour temperature Study on Natural Light and This article used an eye-tracker to analyze the user ’s comfort Shadow Control in Sports Field 2 H. Liu 2014 with natural light and shadow in sports venues and Area Based on proposed a new design strategy. Eye-Tracker Experiment Study on Interface Form of Urban This article used an eye-tracker to explore the motivation of 3 Z. Zhang 2017 Road Building subjects when choosing an urban road–building interface. Study on Planning and Design of This article analyzed the visual preferences and needs of 4 Forest Recuperation Footpath in L. Zhang 2019 users through eye-trackers and proposed a planning strategy Beijing Area for forest-rehabilitation trials in Beijing. In summary, this paper takes the visual integration relationship between the build- ings and the natural environment as the research object based on cognitive psychology. Using eye-movement experiments, we collected objective eye-movement data on people’s observations of real pictures. The data was statistically analyzed to explore the inﬂu- ence of architectural distribution form and the slenderness ratio of building blocks on the visual integration relationship between nature and buildings (as shown in Figure 1). Responsive design strategies and techniques were then proposed for consideration by interested architects. Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 21 This article used an eye-tracker to explore the Study on Interface Form of Urban Road 3 Z. Zhang 2017 motivation of subjects when choosing an Building urban road–building interface. This article analyzed the visual preferences Study on Planning and Design of Forest Re- and needs of users through eye-trackers and 4 L. Zhang 2019 cuperation Footpath in Beijing Area proposed a planning strategy for forest- rehabilitation trials in Beijing. In summary, this paper takes the visual integration relationship between the build- ings and the natural environment as the research object based on cognitive psychology. Using eye-movement experiments, we collected objective eye-movement data on people’s observations of real pictures. The data was statistically analyzed to explore the influence of architectural distribution form and the slenderness ratio of building blocks on the visual integration relationship between nature and buildings (as shown in Figure 1). Responsive design strategies and techniques were then proposed for consideration by interested archi- Buildings 2022, 12, 930 6 of 20 tects. Figure 1. Experimental schematic diagram. Figure 1. Experimental schematic diagram. 3. Research Design 3. Research Design 3.1. Research Object 3.1. Research Object 3.1.1. Cases 3.1.1. Cases There are some differences between architectural renderings and real pictures of construction projects. To beautify the architectural image, the scenery of renderings is often There are some differences between architectural renderings and real pictures of con- artiﬁcially adjusted, so it is challenging to present the building site’s environment directly. struction projects. To beautify the architectural image, the scenery of renderings is often In other words, the actual environment or the surrounding scenery as shown in the graphic artificially adjusted, so it is challenging to present the building site’s environment directly. rendition of the building and its surrounding scenic ambience may not be a totally reliable In other words, the actual environment or the surrounding scenery as shown in the picture of the natural scenery in which the building stands. In addition, the texture of graphic rendition of the building and its surrounding scenic ambience may not be a totally building materials, the light and shadow of building blocks, and building details are also reliable picture of the natural scenery in which the building stands. In addition, the texture difﬁcult to present accurately through graphic renderings. Furthermore, due to the different of building materials, the light and shadow of building blocks, and building details are levels and the variable quality of rendering technology, the visual effects that different also difficult to present accurately through graphic renderings. Furthermore, due to the architectural renderings express are different, a factor which will affect experimental results. different levels and the variable quality of rendering technology, the visual effects that Different mapping levels could bring about cognitive differences among observers, thus different architectural renderings express are different, a factor which will affect experi- affecting the eventual experimental results. Therefore, using architectural renderings as mental results. Different mapping levels could bring about cognitive differences among experimental observation cases may be somewhat misleading. To ensure the objectivity observers, thus affecting the eventual experimental results. Therefore, using architectural and accuracy of the experiment, actual pictures of the construction project were selected in renderings as experimental observation cases may be somewhat misleading. To ensure this experiment. the objectivity and accuracy of the experiment, actual pictures of the construction project Before doing the eye-tracking experiment, the experimental sample underwent a pre- were selected in this experiment. processing work. Firstly, this study searched the Gooood website (a website that presents Before doing the eye-tracking experiment, the experimental sample underwent a pre- many building projects) for all completed building projects from 1 January 2000–1 April processing work. Firstly, this study searched the Gooood website (a website that presents 2018. Secondly, selecting 20 building projects that suit the purpose of this study as a sample. The building projects selected share the following characteristics: (1) completed building projects, (2) the buildings are in a natural environment, (3) the purpose of the building design is to enhance the environmental quality, (4) the building blocks are simple, and (5) the building materials have similarities to the local environment’s natural elements. Third, analyzing these 20 samples found that the form of building blocks could be categorized as D-1, D-2, and D-3 (Table 4). And the S/L ratio of building blocks was between 10% and 40%, which could be categorized as R-1, R-2, and R-3 (Table 5). Finally, using 20 samples, this study devised a questionnaire to select six samples with the most typical characteristics for the eye-movement experiment (Appendix A). Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 21 many building projects) for all completed building projects from 1 January 2000–1 April 2018. Secondly, selecting 20 building projects that suit the purpose of this study as a sam- ple. The building projects selected share the following characteristics: (1) completed build- ing projects, (2) the buildings are in a natural environment, (3) the purpose of the building design is to enhance the environmental quality, (4) the building blocks are simple, and (5) the building materials have similarities to the local environment’s natural elements. Third, analyzing these 20 samples found that the form of building blocks could be categorized as D-1, D-2, and D-3 (Table 4). And the S/L ratio of building blocks was between 10% and 40%, which could be categorized as R-1, R-2, and R-3 (Table 5). Finally, using 20 samples, Buildings 2022, 12, 930 7 of 20 this study devised a questionnaire to select six samples with the most typical characteris- tics for the eye-movement experiment (Appendix A). Table 4. Criteria of the distribution of building blocks. Table 4. Criteria of the distribution of building blocks. Variable D-1 D-2 D-3 Variable D-1 D-2 D-3 Definition Deﬁnition (the Multiple rectangular blocks/ Multiple polygonal Multiple rectangular One rectangular (the distribution of Multiple polygonal blocks One rectangular blocks distribution of One polygon block blocks blocks/One polygon block blocks building blocks) building blocks) Illustration Illustration Table 5. Criteria of the S/L ratio of building blocks. Table 5. Criteria of the S/L ratio of building blocks. Variable R-1 R-2 R-3 Variable R-1 R-2 R-3 Definition Deﬁnition (the S/L 31–40% 21–30% 11–20% (the S/L ratio of building blocks) ratio of 31–40% 21–30% 11–20% building blocks) Illustration Illustration Through a comprehensive analysis of survey results, the survey found that subjects were deeply impressed by six real photos and considered them of representative research Through a comprehensive analysis of survey results, the survey found that subjects significance for this experiment. Therefore, these six real photos were selected as experi- were deeply impressed by six real photos and considered them of representative research mental subjects in this study and were divided into two groups of experiments. In the first signiﬁcance for this experiment. Therefore, these six real photos were selected as experi- group of experiments, sample 1 is the Xitang Garden Resort Complex Project in Shang- mental subjects in this study and were divided into two groups of experiments. In the ﬁrst yunshang, sample 2 is the Yangshuo-Alila Sugar Factory, and sample 3 is the Liyuan Li- group of experiments, sample 1 is the Xitang Garden Resort Complex Project in Shangyun- brary. The views of these photos are all from human viewpoints, and the buildings are all shang, sample 2 is the Yangshuo-Alila Sugar Factory, and sample 3 is the Liyuan Library. at the center position of the pictures. The environmental elements of the building site are The views of these photos are all from human viewpoints, and the buildings are all at the water, green plants, and sky. The distribution of buildings in sample 1 is relatively scat- center position of the pictures. The environmental elements of the building site are water, tered. The two monomer buildings in sample 2 are complete in shape but far away from green plants, and sky. The distribution of buildings in sample 1 is relatively scattered. The each other, and the distribution form of these buildings is between dispersed and concen- two monomer buildings in sample 2 are complete in shape but far away from each other, trated. The distribution of buildings in sample 3 is relatively concentrated. According to and the distribution form of these buildings is between dispersed and concentrated. The the numerical analysis of the H (hue), S (saturation), and B (brightness) colour mode and distribution of buildings in sample 3 is relatively concentrated. According to the numerical the analysis of the picture composition proportion of the site environment, the three sam- analysis of the H (hue), S (saturation), and B (brightness) colour mode and the analysis ples of the first group have similar colour compositions of the site environment. In terms of the picture composition proportion of the site environment, the three samples of the of colour, the H of sky samples 1 and 2 is blue, the S is moderate and the B of the three ﬁrst group have similar colour compositions of the site environment. In terms of colour, samples is significantly different. The water surface can be divided into two types, both the H of sky samples 1 and 2 is blue, the S is moderate and the B of the three samples is of which exist in the three samples. The H on the water surface is blue–green, and the B signiﬁcantly different. The water surface can be divided into two types, both of which exist and S are similar. The H on the water surface is blue, and the B and S of samples 2 and 3 in the three samples. The H on the water surface is blue–green, and the B and S are similar. The H on the water surface is blue, and the B and S of samples 2 and 3 are similar. The H of the plant part is green, and the B and S are similar (as shown in Table 6). In the second group of experiments, sample 4 is Anaya Library, sample 5 is Anaya Church, and sample 6 is the Black Tent Travel Camp Center. The views of these photos are all human viewpoints, and buildings are all at the center position of these pictures. The environmental components of the site where the building is located are mainly composed of sky (blue), ground (yellow), and water (blue). In terms of composition proportion, the blue part plays a dominant role in the site environment, occupying two-thirds of the whole image. The yellow part is of secondary importance in the site environment, occupying one- third of the whole image. Buildings in the second group of samples are all single buildings with similar interface materials and solid colours, which are different from colours of the site environment. This paper draws on Yoshinobu Ashihara’s study of the scale of external space (using the distance D between people and buildings and the height H of buildings to Buildings 2022, 12, 930 8 of 20 describe the visual perception of external space) to analyze the relationship between the base of a building in its natural environment [35]. Based on this, this paper uses the ratio of the shorter side (S) to the longer side (L) of the building‘s main facade to describe the BuilB du in ilB g ds u i n i 2lg 0 ds 2 i n 2 2g ,0 s 1 2 2 2 2,0 , x 2 12 2 F ,, O 1 x2 R F , O x P E R FE O P R R E E R P R E EV E RIR E E V W RIE E V W IE W 8 o8 f 2 o1 8 f 2 o1 f 21 visual characteristics of the building (the S/L ratio) in order to describe the visual centrality BuilB du in ilB g ds u i n i 2lg 0 ds 2 i n 2 2g 0 , s 1 2 2 2 20 ,, x 1 22 2 F ,, O x 12 R F , O x P R E FE O P R R E E R P R E E V E RIR E E V W RIE E V W IE W 8 o8 f 2 o1 8 f 2 o1 f 21 of the building accurately. Buildings in sample 4 are relatively square, with the S/L ratio of approximately 33%. The building in sample 5 is a triangle. According to the visual be divided into two types, both of which exist in the three samples. The H on the water be b de dynamics, i v d id iv eid d e id nt i o the n t tw o shape o tw ty op te y has s p , eb san o , tb h o upwar t oh f w ofh w d ich dynamic hi c eh x ie sx t iis n tfor t in hce, et h th e and rte h er its e se a m S/L sa p m lep ratio sl . eT sh . is e T h H appr e o H n oximately o tn h et h w ea w tea r25%. t er surfaceBuildings is blue–grin eesample n, and th 6e ar Be a str nd uctur S are ed sim with ilarthe . ThS/L e H o ratio n the of w appr ater oximately surface is b 15%. lue, a Accor nd ding sursfu ar cfea i cse b is lu b el– ug er –eg ern e,e a nn , d a n td he t h Be a B n d a n Sd a S re a s riem si il m ar i.l a T rh . T e h H e o H n o th ne t h w ea w tea rt s eu r rsfu ar cfea i cse b is lu b el,u a en , d a nd be b de i v b d ie d i v e d id d iv e iin d dt e o id n t t w o in o t tw o t y o tw p te y os p ,t e y b s p o , e tb h so , o tb h fo w t oh fh w o ic fh h w i c e h h xi ic e sh x t iie s n x t it is h n te t i h n th e t r h teh e e r te sh e ar m e se a p m l se a p s m .l eT p sh .l ee T s h .H e T h o H e n o H th n e o t n h w eta h w te ea rw t ea rt er thet h Be a B n to d aHSB n Sd o S f s colour oa fm sa p m lep s model l2 e sa 2 n d anumerical n 3d a 3 re a s riem siilm analysis ari.l a T rh . e T h H and e o H f to pictur hfe t h pe la p e nlt composition a p na t r p t a ir st g ir se g er n e pr ,e a n oportion n , d a n th de t h Be analysis a B n d a nd of the B and S of samples 2 and 3 are similar. The H of the plant part is green, and the B and surfac se u i rs f a b cle u e is– b gl ru ee en –g , r ae ne d n ,t h ae n d B t ah ned B S a a n rd e s Si m arie l a sri.m Tih la er H . T o hn e H th e o n w t ah te er w su at re fa r c se u i rs f a b cle u i es, b an lu de , and surface is blue–green, and the B and S are similar. The H on the water surface is blue, and the site environment, the colour composition and proportion of these three samples in the S aS re a s riem siilm ar i l(a a rs ( s ah s o sw ho nw in n T in a b Tla eb 6 le ). 6). S are similar (as shown in Table 6). thet h Be ta h B n e d a B n S d a o n S fd s o a S fm s oa p fm l se a p s m l2 ep sa l2 n e s d a 2 n 3 d a a n 3 rd e a s 3 rie m a s ri ie lm a sr i i.lm a T r ih .l a e T r h .H e T o h H f e t o H h fe t o h p fe lta h p n e lta p p nla ta r p n t a ti r s p t a g ir s rte g e is rn e g ,e r a n e n ,e d a n n ,t h d ae n t d h Be ta h B n e d a B n d a nd second group are similar. In terms of colour, the sky H is blue, the S is similar, and the B S aS re a s S rie m a s ri ie l m a sr i i l m ( aa r is l( a s a rh s ( o s aw h s o n sw h io n nw T in n a b T in la e b T 6 la e ).b 6 le ). 6). Tab Tla eb T 6la .e b P 6 l i.c e t P u 6i.r c e P tu ia c rn e tu a a r ln y es a a ils n y a s oilfs y ts o h ifs e t o f h ifr e s t f h ti e r gs r fto i r g u srp to g u o rp fo e u o x p fp e o ex r fp ie m e xre p in m et re a im n l s te a u n lb t sja u elc b s tjs u e.c b tjs e.c ts. differs greatly. The H of the ground is yellow, and the S and B are similar (as shown in Table 7). Tab Tla eb T 6la .e b P 6l i.c e t P u 6i.c r e P tu ia c rn e tu a a r ln y ea s a ils n y a s oilfs y ts o h ifs e t o f h ife r s t f h ti e r gs r fto i r g u srp to g u o rp fo e u o x p fp e o e x r fp ie m e xre p im n et re a im n l t se a u n lb t sja u elc b s tjs u e.c b tjs e.c ts. Sam Sa p m S le a p m le p le Sam Sa p m S le a p m 1 le p 1 le 1 Sam Sa p m S le a p m 2 le p 2 le 2 Sam Sa p m S le a p m 3 le p 3 le 3 Table 6. Picture analysis Yof uY n the s uh Y na ﬁrst u sn h n g a s n h X gr g a ioup t n X ag n i tg X a of n itg a experimental ng subjects. Sam Sa p m S le a p m lep le Sam Sa p m S le a p m 1 le p 1 le 1 Sam Sa p m S le a p m 2 le p 2 le 2 Sam Sa p m S le a p m 3 le p 3 le 3 Yangshuo–Alila Liyuan Yan Yg as nh gu so h– uA o– liA lal ila Liy L u ia yn u a n Buildings pastoral resort BuB ilu di il n d gis n gs pas p ta os rt ao l rr aels r o ersto r t YuY ns uh Y na s u n h n g a s n h X g a i t n X ag n i tg X a n itg a ng Sug Sa urg F aa r c F ta oc rt y o ry LibL ri ab rr ya ry Sugar Factory Library Yan Yg as n Y h g a u s n o h g – u sA o h– u liA o la – l iA lal ila Liy L uia y L n u i a y n u a n Sample Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 com co p m c le o p x m l ep xl ex Buildi B n u gis ld ings pastor pa als r te os ro ar l tr e sort Buildings pastoral resort Sug Sa urg S F a ur a g c F a tr a o c r F t y a o c rt y o ry Lib L ri ab r L r y i a b rr ya ry Yunshang Xitang Yangshuo–Alila Sugar com co p m c le o p x m l ep xl ex Buildings Liyuan Library pastoral resort complex Factory Pho Pth oo st os Photos Photos Pho Pth oo P sth oo st os Experimental sample Exp Ee xr p im ere im nte an l ts aa lm sa p m lep le Experimental sample building block buib ld ui ib n lu d gi i l n b d g lio n b cg lk o b clk o ck ExperE im xp ee nrtia m l e sa nm tap l l se a mple Experimental sample buib ld ui ib l n d u gi i l n b d g lio n b cg lk o b clk o ck Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Vie V w ie pw oip no ti nt HuH m u am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no ti ntH uH m u am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no ti ntH uH m u am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no ti nt Location Guangdong Guangxi Beijing Loc La o tc io an ti on GuG an ug ad no gn dg o ng GuG an ug ax nig xi BeiB jie nig ji ng Viewp V L o ie o in w ct a p tio oin n t Huma H nu v m G ie u a w a nn p v g o id e in w otn pg o H inu t ma H nu v m ie G aw n u p a vo n ie ig n w x ti p oH inu t ma H nu v m iea B w ne p v ijo i in e in w gt point Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Function Reception center Hotel Library Function Reception center Hotel Library Loc F La u o tn c F L io a c u o n t tn c ii o o a cn t n tii o on n G Ru eG c a R e n u e p G g c ate d n u ip o o g an tn d n i o g o g cn e n dn g o cte n en g rt er GuG an H uG g a o x n H u tie g a o lx n tie g lx i Bei L B jiie n b L iB g r jii a e n b r ig r jy ia n rg y 2 2 2 Area 500 m 2 2 2 3152m 2 2 275 2 2m 2 Are A ar ea 500 5 0 m 0 m 315 3 1 m 5 m 275 2 7 m 5 m FunctF io u A n n r ce tia o n Recep R tie o cn e p 5 ct e 0in 0 o tn m e r c e nter Hotel 3 H 15 o tm el Librar L 2 y i7 b 5r a m ry Function Reception center Hotel Library 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Floor FloF olr o or 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Are A ar F e A a lo r e oa r 500 5 0 m 0 5 0 m 0 2 m 315 3 1 m 5 3 1 m 5 2 m 275 2 7 m 5 2 7 m 5 2 m Elements Sky Have Have Have EleE m le eF m n lt o e s F o n lr t o s F o lr o or S ky S ky 2H a 2H v e a 2 v e 2H a 2H v e a 2 v e 2H a 2H v e a 2 v e Sky Have Have Have Elements of Green plants Have Have Have of n oa f tn o ua fr ta n u la rta u G l rr ae G le r n e G e p rn l ea e p n n lta s p n lta sn ts HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve Eleme E n le ts m ents S ky Sky Have Have Have Have Have Have Elements Sky Have Have Have natural environment Water Have Have Have env ein rv oi n rm on em nte nt Wa W tea r ter HaH ve a ve HaH ve a ve HaH ve a ve environment Water Have Have Have of n oa f tn o ua fr ta n u la rta u G l rr ae G le rn e G e p rn l ea e p n n lta s p n lta sn ts HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve Position in photo Center Center Center Pos P io tis oin ti o in n in env ein rv o ei n n rm v oi n e rm o nn te m nte n W t a W P te o a r W s t ieta r io t e n r in HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve HaH ve a H ve a ve Cen Cte en r ter Cen Cte en r ter Cen Cte en r ter Center Center Center Criteria of the Building pho pth oo p t h oo to Pos Pio tis P oio n tis o iin n ti o in n in distribution of D-1 D-2 D-3 Cen Cte en C rt e en rt er Cen Cte en C r te en rt er Cen Cte en C rt e en rt er CriC te rr ii ta e ro ia f of Criteria of pho pth oo p th oo to building blocks Bui B ld ui B in lu d gi i l n d gi ng thet het he CriC te rr iC i ta e r r io i ta e f ro ia f of H 214 217 0 disd triisb tr uitb io un ti on D-1 D -1 D-2 D -2 D-3 D -3 distribution D-1 D-2 D-3 BuB ild ui B in lu d gi i n ld gi ng thet het he Sky colour analysis B 86 84 0 of b ou f ib o ld u f i ib n lu d gi i l n d gi ng S disd triisb d tr u iist b t ir u oin t b i u on ti on D5 -1 D -1 D -1 D-2 D 23 -2 D -2 D-3 D -3 D 100 -3 blob clk osc ks blocks of b ou f ib o ld u f i ib n ld u gi i l n d gi ng H 198 25 38 Colour analysis of B H H 254 14 2 14 217 2 57 17 0 0 49 blob clk os b c lk o H sc ks 214 217 0 water 1 Sky S k cy o S lk c oy o u lc r o o u lr o ur S 53 44 68 B B B 86 86 86 84 84 84 0 0 0 H H H 214 2 14 2 14 217 2 17 2 17 0 0 0 analysis ana aln ya sliy s sis Sky S k cy o S lk c oy o u lc r o o u lr o ur H S S 125 5 5 23 124 23 100 1 00 124 S 5 23 100 B B B 86 86 86 84 84 84 0 0 0 Colour analysis of analya sin sa lysis analysis B 49 24 25 CoC loo ulr o u r H H 198 1 98 25 25 38 38 Colour S S H S 5 5 15 9 8 23 23 2 23 5 100 1 00 13 08 0 water 2 S 35 27 24 analysis of B 54 57 49 ana aln ya sliy s so is f of B B 54 54 57 57 49 49 CoC loo u C lr o o u lr o u r H H H 198 1 98 1 98 25 25 25 38 38 38 H 166 157 141 waw tea r t1 e r 1 S S 53 53 44 44 68 68 water 1 S 53 44 68 ana aln ya a slin y sa so liy s f so is f of B B B 54 54 54 57 57 57 49 49 49 Plant colour analysis B 13 20 34 CoC loo ulr o u r H H 125 1 25 124 1 24 124 1 24 waw tea rw C t1 eo a r t l1 e o r u 1 r S S H S 53 531 52 35 44 441 42 44 68 681 62 84 S 66 32 20 ana aln ya a slin y sa s o liy f s so is f of B B B 49 49 49 24 24 24 25 25 25 CoC loo u C lr o o u lr o u r H H H 125 1 25 1 25 124 1 24 1 24 124 1 24 1 24 waw tea r t2 e r 2 S S 35 35 27 27 24 24 water 2 S 35 27 24 ana aln ya a slin y sa so liy s f so is f of B B B 49 49 49 24 24 24 25 25 25 H H 166 1 66 157 1 57 141 1 41 waw tea rw t2 ea r t2 e r 2 S S H S 35 351 36 56 27 271 25 77 24 241 24 41 PlaP nlta P c no lta lc n oo t u lc r o o u lr o ur B 13 20 34 B B 13 13 20 20 34 34 H H H 166 1 66 1 66 157 1 57 1 57 141 1 41 1 41 analysis ana aln ya sliy s sis PlaP nlta P c no lta lc n oo t u lc r o o u lr o ur S S 66 66 32 32 20 20 S 66 32 20 B B B 13 13 13 20 20 20 34 34 34 analya sin sa lysis analysis S S S 66 66 66 32 32 32 20 20 20 BuilB diu nig ld si n 20 g2 s 2 2,0 1 22 2,, x 1 2 F,O xR F O PE RE P RE R EE RV R IE EV W I EW 9 of9 2o 1f 21 Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 21 BuiB ldu in ilB g ds iu n 2 ig l0 d s2 i n 2 20 g , 2 s 1 2 2 2,,0 1 x 22 2 F ,, O x 1 2 R F,O P xR E F E O PR E R E R P R E E V R EI E R E V W R IE E V W I EW 9 o9 f 2 o1 f9 2o 1f 21 In tIh ne t h se ec s oe ncd o n gd ro g urp o u op f e ox fp eex rp im ere im nte s,n s ts a,m sa pm lep 4l ei s4 A isn A ay n aa y La ib L ra ib ry ra , rsy a,m sa pm lep 5 l ei s5 A is n A ay n aa ya In the second group of experiments, sample 4 is Anaya Library, sample 5 is Anaya ChC ur h cu C hr ,h c a u hn r , c d a h n s , d a am n sd a pm ls ea p 6 m le ip s 6 l e tih s6 e t i h B se la t h B ce k la B c Tk le a n T ct k e T n T r te aT n vr te a lT v C r ea la v m C ea lp m C C a pe m n C p te e n r C .t e e T n rh .t e e Tr h v . e iT e h v w e ie s v w o is f e w t o h f se ts o h e fe p t sh e h e o p ste h o o p st h oo s tos In the second group of experiments, sample 4 is Anaya Library, sample 5 is Anaya In theI n se tc h oen s de c go rn ou dp g r oo f u ep x p oe fr e im xp ee nrtism , s ea nm tsp , l se a m 4 p isl e A 4 n a is y a A L na ib yra a r L y i,b s ra ar m yp , l se a m 5 p isl e A 5 n a is y a A naya are all human viewpoints, and buildings are all at the center position of these pictures. area a re ll a h lu l m hu am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no ts in , t asn , d a n bd u ib ld uiin ld gis n g ar se a a re ll a altl ta h te t h ce en cte en r tp er o s p io tis oin ti o on f t o h fe tsh ee p se ic p tu ic rt eu sr . es. Church, and sample 6 is the Black Tent Travel Camp Center. The views of these photos Churc C hh , u ar ncd h ,s a am nd p l se a m 6 p isl e t h 6e iB s lta hce k B T le an ck t T Tr ea n v te T l r C aa vm elp C C am en p te C r.e T nh te er .v T ie h w e sv o ie fw th se o sf e tp hh eo se to p s hotos The environmental components of the site where the building is located are mainly The T h ee n v ein ro vn irm on em nte an l tc ao l m co pm on pe on nte sn o ts f o th f et h se it e s it w e hw erh ee r te h et h be u ib ld uiin ld gi nig s lio s cl ao te ca dt ea d r ea r m e am ina ly in ly area a rl el a hlu l m hu am n a vn ie v w ip ew oip no ts in , t asn , d a n bd u ib ld uiin ld gisn a gr se a a rl el a altl ta hte t h ce en c te en r tp er o s p it o is oin ti o on f to h fe t sh ee p se ic t p u ic re tu s.r es. are all human viewpoints, and buildings are all at the center position of these pictures. composed of sky (blue), ground (yellow), and water (blue). In terms of composition com co pm os p eo ds eo d f o sk f y s k (y b lu (b el)u , eg )r , og u rn od u n(d y e(ly lo ew llo ),w a )n , d a nw d aw tea r te (b r lu (b el)u . eI)n . Itn er m ter sm os f o co f m co pm os p io tis oin ti on The T h ee n v ein ro vn irm on em nte an l tc ao l m co pm on pe o n n te sn o ts f o th f et h se it es iw teh w erh ee r th e et h be u ib ld uiin ld gi n is g lio sc a lo te cd at ea d r ea r m e am ina ly in ly The environmental components of the site where the building is located are mainly prop pro orp tio orn ti,o tn h,e t h bl eu b el u pe a rp t a p rlta p yl sa a y s d a o m do in m ai n n ta rn otl e r o il n e tih ne t h sie te s ietn e v ein ro vn irm on em nte , n ot c,c o uc p cy uip ny gi n tw g o tw - o- proportion, the blue part plays a dominant role in the site environment, occupying two- com cop m c oo p sm e od s p eo o ds f e o s d fk y o s k f (y b s l k ( u y be l) u (,b eg l)u ,r e o g )u r , o ng u d rn o( d u y n e(l d y lo e( l w l y o e )w ,l la o ),n w d a)n , w d a n aw t d ea rt w e (r a b tle ( u b re l) u (.b eI l)u n . e It ) n e . rI t m n er sm t e o s rf m o cs fo m o co fp m c oo p sm io tis p o it o n is oin ti on thir th di sr t d h os ifr d o ts h f eo t h fw et h h w o el h ew o l ih e m oa ilm e g e a i.m g T ea .h ge T e .h y e T e l h y le o e w ll y o ew p lla o rw p t a i rp s t ao irst f o i ss f e co s oe fn cd s oe a nc rd o ya n ri d y m a r p iy m o r p itm o an rp tc a o en r tc ia e n n c itn e h eit n h s e it t h e s e it es ite proportion, the blue part plays a dominant role in the site environment, occupying two- propo p rr ti o o p no , rtth io en b , lt u he e p ba lu rte p p la ay rts p al a dy osm ai n da on m t irn oa ln e ti n ro tlh ee i n si t te h e e n si v tier o en nm vie ro nn t,m oe cc nu t,p o ycic nu gp ty w in og - two- env ein ro v en in rm o vn ie rm n otn e , m n otc e , c n o u tcp ,c o y uc ip n cy u gi p n oy g n i e n o-g n th e o i -r n th d ei -r o td h f ito rh d fe t o h w fe h t h w oe lh e w o ilm h e o a il m g ee a i.m g B ea u . g iB led u . iiB n ld u gii s n l d i g n isn tig h n s e t ih s ne e c t h s oe e n c d s oe n g cd r oo n g u d rp o g u o rp f o u op f of thirds of the whole image. The yellow part is of secondary importance in the site thirdst ho ir fd tsh e o fw th ho e le w i h m ol aeg e i.m T ah ge e . y T eh lle o w ye lp lo aw rt ip sa r otf is se c oo fn s dea cro yn d im arp yo r it m an pc oe r ta in n ct eh e in s itth ee site samples are all single buildings with similar interface materials and solid colours, which sam sa pm lep s la er se a a rl el a sl il n s giln eg b le u ib ld uiin ld gis n w gsi tw h is th im siilm ari lia n rt e in rf ta ec rf ea m cea m tea rita elrs i a aln s d a n sd ol s id o lc id ol c oo ulr o su , r w s,h w ich hi ch environment, occupying one-third of the whole image. Buildings in the second group of enviro en nm vie ro nn t,m oe cn cu t,p o ycic nu gp o yn in eg -t h oin rd e- t o h fi r th de o w f t h h o el e w ih m oa lg e e i.m Ba u gie ld . i B nu gis ld in in t g h se i n se tc h oe n s de c go ro nu dp g r oo f up of are different from colours of the site environment. This paper draws on Yoshinobu area r d ei ff d eir fe fe nrte n fr to f m ro m co lc oo ulr o su r osf o th f et h se it e s it ee n v ein ro vn irm on em nte . nT t.h iT sh p isa p pe arp e drr ad w ra s w osn oY no s Y h ois nh oib nu o bu sam sa pm lep s la er se a a rlel a si ln l g siln eg b lu e ib ld uiin ld gisn w gsi tw h is tih m siilm ari lia nrt e in rfta ec re fa m cea m ter aita elrsi a aln s d a n so dl isd o lc io dl o co ulro su , r w s,h w ich hi ch samples are all single buildings with similar interface materials and solid colours, which Ash A ih sh ai rh aa ’s r a s’ts u s dty u d oy f to hfe t s hc ea s le c a o lf e e ox ft e er xn te ar ln sa pla scp ea (c u es ( in ug si n th ge t d he is t d ain st ca en D ce b D et b w ee te w ne p en e o p p elo ep aln ed a nd Ashihara’s study of the scale of external space (using the distance D between people and area rd ea i fr d fe e i f rf d een irft e f e n fr t re on fm rto m fc ro o lm c o o u lo r cs o u lro o su f o rts f h e o t h fs eit th e se it e es n iv e te n ir v o ein n ro m vn ie rm o nn t e.m n T te .h n T its.h ip T sa hp p is e a r p p e a d rp r a e dw rr a s d w ro a sn w o s Y n o oY s n h o is Y n ho o in s bh u oib nu o bu buib ld uiin ld gisn a gn sd a n th de t h he ei h gh eitg H ht o H f b o u fi b ld uiin ld gisn tg os d to es d ce risb ce r itb he e t v hie s u va islu pa elr p ce ep rcte io pn ti o of n e o xft e er xn te ar ln sa pla s cp ea ) ce) buildings and the height H of buildings to describe the visual perception of external space) AsA hish h A a ir h sa h a’i r sh a s a ’t s ru a sd ’ts u y s d o ty u f d o th y f e to h sfe c t a s h lc e ea o s le c f a o elx f e t e o ex r ft n e ea r xl n t e s ar p ln a sa c p le a s c (p u ea s(c iu n es g ( iu n tg s hi e n t h g de it sh d ta e is n d tc aie n s t c D a en b D ce e tb w D et eb w ee n e t e w p n e e o e pn p e o lp e p ea lo e n p d aln e d a nd to a to n a a t ln o ya z a le n y t a zh l ey e t z h re e e lt a r he te ilo a rn t eis lo a h n tiis p o h n b ip s eh t b w ip ee t b w en ee t e t w h ne e t e h b na e t sb h ea e o s b f e a a o s f b e a u o ib fl d u ai ib n ld u gii n iln d g i in itn s g i n itn a s t n iu ta s rt a n u la rea tn u l v r ea in rlo v en in rm o vn ie rm n otn e [m n 3t5 e [ ]n 3 . t 5 [ ]3 . 5]. buildings and the height H of buildings to describe the visual perception of external space) buildib n u gis ld ain nd g s th ae n h de tih ge h h t H eig oh ft b H ui o ld f ib nu gis ld to in d ge ss tc o r id be es tch re ib v ei s th ue a lv p iseu ra ce l p pt eir o cn e p ot fi e ox nt e or fn ea xlt e sp rn aa cl e ) s pace) Based on this, this paper uses the ratio of the shorter side (S) to the longer side (L) of the Bas B ea ds e od n o th ni s th , t is h,i s th p is a p pe arp u er s eu ss teh se t h ra et iro a to io f to hfe t h sh e o sr h te or r ts eir d s ei d (S e) (tS o) tth oe t h lo en lg oe nrg s eir d s ei d (L e) ( o Lf) to h fe t he to analyze the relationship between the base of a building in its natural environment [35]. to anatlo y z ae n a th ly ez r ee t lh at ei o re nlsa h ti ip on b se h tiw pe b ee n t w th ee e n ba ts hee o b fa a s e b u of il a d ib nu gi lid ni n itg s n in a tiu tsr a nla e tu nr va il r o en nm vie ro nn t m [3e 5n ].t [35]. building‘s main facade to describe the visual characteristics of the building (the S/L ratio) buib ld uiin ld gi‘n s g m ‘sa m ina fia nc f aa d ce a d to e d to e sd ce ri sb ce ri b th ee t h ve is v uia slu ca h l a crh aa cr te ar cits etriicsst io cf s to hfe t h bu e ib ld uiin ld gi n (tg h e (t h S/ eL S r /a Lt iro a)t io) BasB ea ds e od n o th ni s t,h t ih s,i s t h p ia s p pe arp u es re u ss te h se t h ra et iro a to io f to hfe t h sh eo srh te or r ts eir d s ei d (S e) (tS o) tth oe t h lo en lg oe n rg s eir d s ei d (L e) (o Lf) to hfe t he Based on this, this paper uses the ratio of the shorter side (S) to the longer side (L) of the in order to describe the visual centrality of the building accurately. Buildings in sample 4 in o in rd oerrd te or d to e s d ce ri sb ce ri b th ee t h ve is v uia slu ca eln cte rn altirta yl io ty f to hfe t h be u ib ld uiin ld gi n ag cc a ucrc au te ra ly te . lB yu . iB ld uiin ld gis n i g n s s in am sa pm lep 4 l e 4 buib ld uiin ld gi‘n s g m ‘sa m ina fia nc a fa dce a d to e d to e sd ce risb ce r it b h ee t v hi es u vi aslu ca h la crh aa cr te ar cits etr ii cs st io cfs to hfe t b hu e ib ld uiin ld gi n (tg h e (t S h/eL S r/a Lt iro a)t io) building‘s main facade to describe the visual characteristics of the building (the S/L ratio) area rreel a rt eilv ae tl iy v e slq yu sa qru ea , r w ei , tw h itth he t S h/e L S r/a Lt iro a t o if o a o p fp ar p op xr io m xa im tel ay te 3l3 y% 33 . T %h . e T b hu e ib ld uiin ld gi n in g s ia nm sa pm lep 5l e is 5 is are relatively square, with the S/L ratio of approximately 33%. The building in sample 5 is in i o n r d o ie n rr d o e tr o rd t d e oe r s d tc o e r s id c be r eis b t ch e ri e t b h v ee it s v h ui e a s l u v c i as e lu n ca t er ln a c tle r it a n y lti rt o a y fl io tth y f e to h b fe u t h b ilu e d iib ln d u g ii n la d g ci c n au c gr c a a ut c r e c a lu y te r . l a B y te .u l B iy lu d . ii B ln d u g iin s ld g in isn i s g n a s m sia n p m l se a p m 4 le p 4l e 4 a tra ia tn ra ig a t ln r eig .a A ln ec .g c A le oc .r c A d o ic r n c d g o i n r to d g i tt n h o g e t t h v oi e s t v u hia e sl u v d a is y lu n d a a y lm n da iy c m n s,a i c tm h s,e i t c h s sh ,e t a s h p h e e a s p h he a a sh p a a en s h a u an p s w u an p a w r u d p a d r w d y a n d ra d ym n da iy c m n fa i o c m r f co iec r , c f ao e n ,r d c ae n,d a nd are relatively square, with the S/L ratio of approximately 33%. The building in sample 5 is are rea la rt ei v re el la yt s iv qe ula yr s eq , u w air th e, tw he it S h/ t L h r ea S ti/o L o ra f ta ip o p orfo a xp im pra o tx eilm y 3 a3 te % ly . T 3h 3% e b . u Ti h le d ib nu gi lid ni n sa gm in p l se a m 5 ip s le 5 is its S/L ratio is approximately 25%. Buildings in sample 6 are structured with the S/L ratio its i S t/ sL S r /a Lt iro a tiiso a ip s p ar p o p xrio m xa im tea ly te 2 ly 5% 25 . % Bu . iB ld uiin ld gis n i g n s s ia nm sa pm lep 6l e a r 6e a s rte r u st crtu uc rt eu dr e w di tw h itth he t h S/ eL S r /a Lt iro a tio a triangle. According to the visual dynamics, the shape has an upward dynamic force, and a trian ag tlre i.a A ng cl ce o.r A di cn cg o rtd oi t n h g e t v oi t sh ue a lv d isy u n aa l m dy ic n sa , m thie c s s,h ta hp ee s h ha as p a en h u as p a w na u rd p w dy an rd a m dy ic n fa o m rcie c, f a on rc de , and of approximately 15%. According to HSB colour model numerical analysis and picture of a op f p ar p o p xrio m xa im tea ly te 1 ly 5 % 15 . % A.c c A oc rc d oir nd gi n to g H toS H B S cB o lc oo ulr o u m ro m de old n eu l m nu em ric ea rl i ca an l a aln ya sl iy s sa in s d a n p d ic p tu ic rt eu re its S it/sL S r/a Lt iro a tiiso a ip s p ar p op xr io m xa im tel ay te 2 l5 y% 25 . % Bu . iB ld uiin ld gisn ig ns sia nm sa pm lep 6l e a r 6e a srte r u sc tr tu uc re tu dr e w di tw h itth he t S h/ eL S r /a Lt iro a tio its S/L ratio is approximately 25%. Buildings in sample 6 are structured with the S/L ratio composition proportion analysis of the site environment, the colour composition and com co pm os p io tis oin ti op nr o p p ro or p ti oo rn ti oa n n a aln ya sl iy s so is f o th f et h se it e s ie te n v ein ro vn irm on em nte , n tt h , et h ce o lc oo ulr o u cr o m co pm os p it ois oin ti oan n d a nd of a op f p ar p op xr io m xa im tel ay te 1 ly 5 % 15 . % A.c c A oc rc do in rd gi n to g H toS H B S cB o lo co ulro u m ro m de old n eu l m nu em ric ea rli ca an l a aln ya sils y s ain s d a n p d ic p tu ic re tu re of approximately 15%. According to HSB colour model numerical analysis and picture prop pro orp tio orn ti o on f to hfe t sh ee ts h er e th er s ea em sa pm lep s lie ns tih ne t s he ec s oe ncd o n gd ro g urp o u ap re a srie m siilm ari.l a In r. tIe n r m tes r m ofs c o o fl o co ulro , u th r,e t he proportion of these three samples in the second group are similar. In terms of colour, the com cop m c oo p sm io tis p o it n o is o i p n ti r o o p n p r o op p rr to i o o rp t n io o r a n tn i o a an l n y a s a lin y sa s i o ls y f s o i ts h f e o t h fs e it th e s e ite en s iv e te n ir v o ein n ro m vn ie rm o nn t e,m n tth e , n e t t h ,c eo t h lc o e o u lo c r o u c lro o m u co rp m c oo p sm io tisp o it o n is o ia n tn i o d an n d a nd skys H ky i H s b ils u b el , u th e,e t S h e is S s i is m siilm ari,l a ar n,d a n th de t B h e d B if fd eirfs f e g rr se g ar tl ey a.t T ly h . e T H he o H f to hfe t g hr eo g urn od u n isd y ie sl l y o ew llo , a w n,d a nd sky H is blue, the S is similar, and the B differs greatly. The H of the ground is yellow, and pro pp ro o p p rr to i o o rp t n io o o rn tfi o o th n f e to s he fe t s th h ee rts e h e er e tsh e ar m s ea e p m l se a p s m l e in p s li te n h s e ti h n se e t cs h o e e n c s o de n c g d o r o n gu d ro p g u a rp o r e u a p r se i m a sriie m l a sr iil.m a Ir n i.l a I tn e r.r t m Ie n rs m t e os r f m o co fs l c o o o u fl o r c,o u tlr h o , e u t h r,e t he the S and B are similar (as shown in Table 7). thet h S ea S n d a n Bd a B re a s rie m siilm ari l(a ars (s ah so sw ho nw in n T in a b Tla eb 7 l) e. 7). sky H is blue, the S is similar, and the B differs greatly. The H of the ground is yellow, and sky Hs ik sy b H lu e is , t b h lu e e S, its h s ei m S iis la sri,m ai n ld ar t , h ae n d B t d h ie ff e Br d s ig fr fe er as t lg yr . e T ah tle y H . T o hfe t H he o g fr to hu en g d r o is u y ne d l lio sw y,e l aln od w , and Buildings 2022, 12, 930 9 of 20 thet S h e a n S d a n Bd a B re a srie m siilm ari l(a ars (s ah so sw ho nw in n T in a b T la e b 7l)e. 7). the S and B are similar (as shown in Table 7). Table 7. Picture analysis of the second group of experimental subjects. Tab T la eb 7l.e P 7 ic . t P uir ce tu arn ea a ly ns ails y o sifs t o hfe ts heec o se nc d o n gd ro g ur p o u of p e o xfp e ex rp im ere in m ta en l s ta ulb s je uc b tjs e.c ts. Tab T le a b 7l.e P 7 ic . tP uir ce tu arn ea a ly ns ailsy o si fs t h of e ts h ee c o sn ec d o g nr d o g ur p o o ufp e o xfp e ex rp im er ein m ta eln s ta ulb s je ucb tjse . cts. Table 7. Picture analysis of the second group of experimental subjects. Sample Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6 Table Sam S 7. a pm Pictur lep le e analysis of the Sam S second a pm lep 4 l e gr 4 oup of experimental Sam Sa pm lep 5 l subjects. e 5 Sam Sa pm lep 6 l e 6 Black Tent Travel Sam Sa pm lep le Sam Sa pm lep 4 l e 4 Sam Sa pm lep 5 l e 5 BlaB ck la T cS k ea n T m t S e T a n pm r t la e T p v 6 re la e lv 6 e l Sample Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6 Buildings Anaya Library Anaya Church BuiB ld uiin ld gis n gs AnA ay na a y La ib L ra ib rr ya ry AnA ay na a y Ca h C ur h cu hr ch Sample Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6 Cam Ca pm Cp e n C te en r ter C B alm aB cp k la C T ck e e n n T t te e T n rr ta T vr ea lv el Black Tent Travel BuiB ld uiin ld gisn gs AnA ay n aa L ya ib L ra ib ry ra ry AnA ay n aa C ya h u Cr h cu hr ch Buildings Anaya Library Anaya Church Black Tent Travel CaC m ap m C C a pe m C np t ee n C rt e en r ter Buildings Anaya Library Anaya Church Camp Center Photos Pho Pth oo st os Photos Pho Pth oo s tos Photos Experimental sample Exp Ee xrp im ere im nte an l tsa alm sa pm lep le Experimental sample building block buib ld uiin ld gi n bg lo b ck lo ck E bx up E ile x d rp i in m eg re i m b nl to e an c l k t sa a lm sa pm lep le Experimental sample bub ilu diib ln d u g iin lb d g lio n b cg lk o b ck lo ck Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint VieV w ie pw oip no t int HuH mu am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no t intH uH mu am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no t intH uH mu am n a vn ie v w ie pw oip no t int Location Hebei Hebei Xizang Location Hebei Hebei Xizang Lo V c L i ao e tV w i co a ip e n tw io oip n no t int HuH m Hu a em H b ne e a v ib n ie e v w i ip ew oip no t int H uH m Hu a em H n be e a v ib n ie e v w i ip ew oip no t int H uX H m iu z a X a m ni n z a v g a n i n e v w gi p ew oip no t int Viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Human viewpoint Function Library Church Museum Function Library Church Museum Fun F Lc u o tn c iL o a co n t ti i c o o an n ti on LibL rH a ib r er y b H a e re iy b ei ChC u H r h c e u h b H r e ce ih b ei Mu M s X eu iu z sX m a en iu zg m a n g Location Hebei Hebei Xizang 2 2 2 Area 500 m 2 2 270 m 2 2 6002m 2 2 2 2 Area 500 m 270 m 600 m A Fru e A n a Fr c u e tn iao cn ti on 500 L 5 im 0 b 0 L r a i m b ry r a ry 270 C 2 m 7 h0 u C r m h cu h r ch 60M 06 u m 0M 0 se u m usm e u m Function Library Church Museum 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Floor Floor 2 2 2 2 1 1 FloF A olro r e o A a rr ea 2 5 00 2 5 m 00 m 2 2 70 2 2 m 70 m 1 6 00 1 6 m 00 m Area 500 m 270 m 600 m Elements Sky 2/3 2/3 2/3 EleE m le em nte sn ts F l oF olr S o k oy r S ky 2/32 2 /3 2 2/32 2 /3 2 2/32 1 /3 1 F Sky loor 2/3 2 2 2/3 1 2/3 Elements of Ground 1/3 1/3 1/3 of n oa ft n ua ra tu l r al Gro G urn od u nd 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 of n E alteu E m rla e elm n t e s n tG s r ouS nk dy S ky 1/32 /32 /3 1/32 /32 /3 1/32 /32 /3 Elements Sky 2/3 2/3 2/3 natural environment Water Have Have None environment Water Have Have None env ein r oo v f n in rm o an te u m n rta e ln t WG aW tre o a ru te nrd HaH v1 e a / v 3 e HaH v1 e a / v 3 e NoN n1 e o / n 3 e of nato ufr a nla t uraG l r oun G d r ound 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 Position in photo Center Center Center Position env ein ro vn irm on em ntP e n ots P iW o tis o a in W t tie o r a n te r HaH vea ve HaH vea ve NoN ne o ne environment Water Have Have None Building Center Center Center BuiB ld uiin ld gi ng Cen Cte en r ter Cen Cte en r ter Cen Cte en r ter Physical distribution Cuboid Cone Cuboid Building in p in h o pth oo to in p Ph oo sP t io t o i s oin ti o n Position Criteria of the S/L ratio R-1 R-2 R-3 BuB ilu dii B ln d u g iin ld gi ng CeC nt ee n C rt e en r ter CeC nt ee n C rt e en r ter CeC nt ee n C rt e en r ter in photo in pho in to p hoto of building blocks (33.33%) (25.00%) (15.43%) H 206 205 204 Sky colour analysis B 95 81 58 S 63 51 51 H 22 25 38 Ground colour analysis B 79 57 49 S 49 44 68 H 202 202 / Water surface B 66 66 / colour analysis S 48 48 / 3.1.2. Subjects Selected As this experiment is of a certain professional level, college students with a certain architectural professional background were selected to participate in the experiment. The total number of subjects was 35, of which 29 were effective samples, and the male-to-female ratio was 16:13. The visual acuity was normal after a naked vision or visual correction. 3.2. Research Methods and Procedures The purpose of most eye-movement studies is to identify and analyze the visual at- tention patterns of individuals while performing speciﬁc tasks, such as reading, searching, viewing images, and driving [36]. This experiment mainly observes the eye-movement be- haviour of the static object when the subject’s head remains stationary. In this experimental model, the main eye-movement behaviours of subjects were saccades and ﬁxation. Saccade reﬂects the changing track of eyeball movement and the change in ﬁxation position [37]. During each saccade, visual acuity was suppressed, making it difﬁcult to see the image clearly. Therefore, visually, the world can be perceived only through ﬁxation [38]. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 10 of 20 3.2.1. Fixation Time Experiment Tobii Studio can measure how long the human eye continues to gaze at an area and the ﬁxation time of ﬁrst entering a certain area. According to the principle of visual attention, visual accuracy deteriorates rapidly when the eye moves away from the central area of the visual ﬁeld. Therefore, people will gaze at a speciﬁc area for longer when this area is of interest or challenging to understand. When viewing stimulus materials, people would ﬁrst rely on implicit attention to determine the part of the visual ﬁeld that needs attention and then turn their eyes away [39]. Therefore, the degree of attractiveness of an area can be judged according to the duration of gazing at it. The visual salience of an area can also be judged according to the time of the ﬁrst entry ﬁxation. The visual expression effect of building in the environment was further analyzed through these two indicators. 3.2.2. Fixation Track Experiment The ﬁxation trajectory map provides the information on the observation sequence and the detailed information on individual ﬁxation, which can be used to analyze the behaviour pattern of the subject. In the ﬁxation trajectory map, the line segments connect each pair of adjacent ﬁxations, and the multi-segment lines formed by multiple line segments reﬂect the eye-movement track of the observed sample [34]. Experiments have proved that, among many types of saccade behaviours, a backward-looking saccade is a form of eye movement used to process contrasting information. More backtracking behaviour occurs in two different interest regions, which means a stronger information correlation between these two regions [34]. The site environment area and the building area in the sample were divided into different AOI (Area of Interest) selections, and the relationship between the building and the environment was studied by counting the lookback behaviour between different areas. 3.2.3. The Number of Fixation Points Experiment The ﬁxation is a basic output measure of interest, showing what the eye is looking at. In terms of spatial distribution, these ﬁxations indicate how much the subject regards different areas of the sample. The number of ﬁxations in different sample areas can also mean the subject’s comprehensive degree of information search in this area. According to these two factors, subjects’ attention to buildings in different environments was further analyzed. In this experiment, a Tobii_T60XL (producer: Tobii, location: Stockholm Sweden) eye- tracker was used to record subjects’ eye-movement data when viewing different pictures, and Tobii Studio 3.1 data analysis software was used to complete the data analysis. Before the test, its purpose was brieﬂy introduced to each subject. During the test, the observation duration of each sample was 8 s, and there were six test stimulus materials in total. To avoid the cross-inﬂuence of stimulus materials, blank pages were presented for 5 s before playing each sample, and the total duration of the experiment was 1–2 min. None of the subjects selected for this paper had been familiar with the architectural sample in advance (Figure 2). Figure 2. Flow chart of experimental design. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 11 of 20 4. Results 4.1. Analysis of the Visual Attraction of Building Based on Fixation Time The site environment area and the building area in the ﬁrst group of experimental samples were divided into different AOI selections for analysis. The relevant ﬁxation time data of the site and the building were detected, and the results are shown in Figure 3. In the ﬁgure, the rectangle of two regions is the residence time of the subject’s sightline observed by the eye-tracker in the sample photo. In contrast, the polygon region is the residence time of the subject’s line of sight observed by the eye-tracker in the building selection in the sample photo. In sample 1, ﬁxation duration on the sample (FDOTS) of subject 3 was 7.41 s, and ﬁxation duration on the building region (FDOTBR) was 3.56 s. FDOTS of subject 6 was 7.45 s, and FDOTBR was 3.47 s a. FDOTS of subject 16 was 7.57 s, and FDOTBR was 3.98 s a. In sample 2, FDOTS of subject 3 was 7.24 s, and FDOTBR was 4.94 s. FDOTS of subject 4 was 8.03 s, and FDOTBR was 5.69 s. FDOTS of subject 15 was 7.79 s, and FDOTBR was 4.60. In sample 3, FDOTS of subject 1 was 7.46 s, and FDOTBR was 4.52 s. FDOTS of subject 3 was 7.24 s, and FDOTBR was 5.08 s. FDOTS of subject 25 was 7.68 s, and FDOTBR was 5.66 s. Figure 3. Fixation durations of the ﬁrst group. Data related to ﬁxation time in the ﬁrst group of experiments were extracted and averaged (all values mentioned below are the average values of 29 samples) for processing and analysis. The results are shown in Figure 4a. The three groups of data were found to have the same trend. Data related to the building distribution form and the experimental ﬁxation time of the ﬁrst group of experimental samples were extracted to draw the trend chart, as shown in Figure 4b. Buildings in sample 1 are distributed in a decentralized way, and the percentage of FDOTBR to FDOTS accounts for 49.80%. Buildings in sample 2 are distributed in a decentralized and concentrated way, and the percentage of FDOTBR to FDOTS accounted for 60.11%. Buildings in sample 3 are distributed in a concentrated way, and the percentage of FDOTBR to FDOTS accounted for 69.25%. Figure 4b shows that the more dispersed the buildings are, the shorter the ﬁxation duration on buildings will be. In other words, in the environment of buildings, the visual attraction of dispersed building groups is weaker, and the sense of the presence of buildings in the environment is lower. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 12 of 20 Figure 4. Analysis of ﬁxation time in the experiment 1: (a) Data related to ﬁxation time in the experiment 1 and (b) relationship between the percentage of FDOTBR to FDOTS, and the distribution of building blocks (the experiment 1). Similarly, the site environment area and the building area in the second group of experimental samples were divided into different AOI selections for analysis. The relevant ﬁxation time data of the site and the building were detected and averaged, and the results are shown in Figure 5. For instance, in sample 4, FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 2 was 7.47 s and 6.45 s. FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 15 was 6.95 s and 5.92 s. FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 20 was 7.29 s and 5.98 s. In sample 5, FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 3 was 7.41 s and 3.95 s. FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 6 was 7.52 s and 3.72 s. FDOTS and FDOTBR of subject 12 was 6.95 s and 3.38 s. Figure 5. Fixation durations of the experiment 2. Data related to ﬁxation time in the second group of experiments were extracted for processing and analysis, and the results are shown in Figure 6. For samples 4–6, the percentage of FDOTBR to FDOTS were 80.97%, 57.52%, and 57.24%, respectively, which were positively correlated with the trend of the S/L ratios of buildings. The percentage of time to ﬁrst ﬁxation on the building region (TTFFOTBR) to FDOTS were 3.03%, 3.30%, and Buildings 2022, 12, 930 13 of 20 6.24% (Figure 6a), showing an inverse correlation with the trend of the S/L ratio of building blocks (Figure 6b). According to the analysis, the larger the S/L ratio of the building blocks, the more focus would be needed for subjects on the building. Through the comprehensive comparative analysis of the above two groups of experimental data, the smaller the S/L ratio of building blocks is, the more dispersed the form would be, and the lower its sense of existence. Figure 6. Analysis of ﬁxation time in the experiment 2: (a) Data related to ﬁxation time in the experi- ment 2; (b) relationship between the percentage of ﬁxation time and the S/L ratio (the experiment 2). 4.2. Correlation Analysis of Building and the Environment Based on Fixation Trajectory The correlation between buildings and the environment refers to the degree to which the building is related to the environment, precisely the degree to which people are con- cerned about the environment when they see the building. The more backtracks the eye-tracker monitors, the more attention people pay to environment when they see build- ings. Through the collection and sorting of backtrack times (times that eyesight shifts back to the last subject) of three samples in the ﬁrst group of experiments (Figure 7), the average data related to ﬁxation trajectories of the ﬁrst group of experiments were obtained (as shown in Figure 8a), showing the same trend in the three groups of data given by samples 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 8b, the trend chart was drawn based on the distribution forms of related buildings in the ﬁrst group of experiments above. The percentages of average regression count on the building region (ARCOTBR) to average saccade on the sample (ASOTS) of samples 1 to 3 were 49.54%, 55.89%, and 63.48%, respectively. Upon analysis, it can be seen that the distribution of building form is more concentrated, and the percentage of ARCOTBR to ASOTS is higher. According to known principles of human brain functioning when processing backward saccades, the more dispersed the distribution of buildings is, the weaker the correlation between buildings and the environment will be. Similarly, the average data related to the ﬁxation trajectory of Experiment 2 (Figure 9) were obtained by collecting and sorting the backtrack times of three samples in Experiment 2 from the building part (as shown in Figure 10a). The three groups of data in samples 4–6 had the same trend. Considered in the relation to the S/L ratio analysis of related building blocks in the second group of experiments above, the trend chart, as shown in Figure 10b, was drawn up: and it was found that in samples 4–6, the percentages of ARCOTBR to ASOTS were 10.31%, 15.54%, and 15.57%, respectively. According to the analysis, the percentage is inversely correlated with the trend of the S/L ratio of building blocks. In other words, the greater the S/L ratio of building blocks are, the weaker will be the correlation between the building and the environment. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 14 of 20 Figure 7. Fixation trajectories of the ﬁrst group of experiments: (a) Sample 1; (b) Sample 2; (c) Sample 3; (d) Sample 1 ﬁxaion track map; (e) Sample 2 ﬁxation track map; (f) Sample 3 ﬁxation track map. Figure 8. Analysis of ﬁxation trajectory in experiment 1: (a) Relevant data for ﬁxation trajectory in Experiment 1 and (b) relationship between the percentage of ARCOTBR to ASOTS, and the distribution of building blocks (the experiment 1). Figure 9. Fixation trajectories of the experiment 2: (a) Sample 4; (b) Sample 5; (c) Sample 6; (d) Sample 4 ﬁxation track map; (e) Sample 5 ﬁxation track map; (f) Sample 6 ﬁxation track map. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 15 of 20 Figure 10. Analysis of ﬁxation trajectory in experiment 2: (a) Relevant data for ﬁxation trajectory in Experiment 2 and (b) relationship between the percentage of ARCOTBR to ASOTS, and the S/L ratio (the experiment 2). 4.3. Analysis of Building Information Search Quantity Based on the Number of Fixation Points The site environment and building area in the ﬁrst group of experimental samples were divided into different AOI selections for analysis. The number of interrelated ﬁxation points of the site and the building was detected. The average value was taken to obtain data related to ﬁxation time in the ﬁrst group of experiments (as shown in Figure 11a), and the three groups of data had the same trend. The trend chart shown in Figure 11b was drawn based on the distribution forms of related buildings in the ﬁrst group of experi- ments: in Skacamples 1–3, the percentage of average ﬁxation counts on the building region (AFCOTBR) to average ﬁxation counts on the sample (AFCOTS) were 47.56%, 53.89%, and 61.35%, respectively. The analysis results have shown a positive correlation between a greater average number of ﬁxations in the building selection and a higher concentration of the building distribution. In other words, the more dispersed the distribution of build- ings are, the eye movements tracked indicate that the subjects would make less effort in searching for building information. Figure 11. Analysis of the ﬁxation points in the experiment 1: (a) Data related to the number of ﬁxation points in the experiment 1 and (b) relationship between the percentage of AFCOTBR to AFCOTS, and distribution of building blocks (the experiment 1). Similarly, the site environment area and the building area in the second group of experimental samples were divided into different AOI selections for analysis, the number of related ﬁxation points between the site and the building was detected, and the average value was taken in order to obtain the data pertaining to the ﬁxation time in the second group of experiments (as shown in Figure 12a). The three groups of data showed the same Buildings 2022, 12, 930 16 of 20 trend. The trend chart, as shown in Figure 12b, was drawn based on the analysis of the S/L ratio of buildings in the second group of experiments. Among them, the percentages of AFCOTBR to AFCOTS in the Samples 4–6 were 76.50%, 50.54%, and 49.96%, respectively. Based on the analysis results, the proportion of the average number of ﬁxation points in the sample was positively correlated with the trend of the S/L ratio of building blocks. In other words, the larger the S/L ratio of the building blocks are, the greater would be the tendency for the subjects to search for the building information. Figure 12. Analysis of the ﬁxation points in the experiment 2: (a) Data related to the number of ﬁxation points in the experiment 2 and (b) relationship between the percentage of AFCOTBR to AFCOTS, and the S/L ratio (the experiment 2). 5. Discussion and Conclusions With the aid of eye-tracker experiments, this study analyzed how the distribution and the S/L ratio of building blocks affect the eye-movement behaviors, and, in turn, proposes corresponding design strategies for the building blocks. Analysis of the three sets of experimental data from Samples 1, 2, and 3 revealed that the more dispersed the distribution of the building blocks, the more it would cause increased levels of eye movements, shorter ﬁxation duration, and less ﬁxation points. This means more contact surfaces between building and environment can enhance saccade behaviour. Separated building blocks or an interrupted shape can increase the contact surface between building and environment, so the architect can use such design strategies to increase the saccade behaviour between the building and environment area. Visually, this helps to enhance the integration of the building with the natural environment. Analysis of the three sets of experimental data from Samples 4, 5, and 6 revealed the discovery that the larger the S/L ratio of building blocks, the more it is likely to cause less eye movement, longer ﬁxation duration, and more ﬁxation points. Just imagine what an exaggerated thing it would be to suddenly see a supertall building on a prairie. So, reducing the S/L ratio of the building blocks helps to enhance the integration of the building with the natural environment when designing it. Furthermore, the frequency of eye movement is a key feedback of the effort made by the viewer for purposes of information searching. So, changing the ratio of S/L and adjusting the distribution of building blocks are both ways of trying to reduce the amount of visual information expressed in the buildings. Therefore, when architects want to change the relationship between buildings and the environment, they can also change the building’s color and materials to control the expression of the building’s visual information instead of designing the building blocks. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 17 of 20 Compared with other articles that examine the relationship between buildings and the environment, this study conducts advanced research on the visual expression of architecture and broadens the scope of earlier approaches to research in this ﬁeld. For instance, some published articles suggest a more integrated environment with a larger ratio of height-to- width values for individual buildings in urban mid-rise clusters. Some published articles suggest that controlling the height of building masses in waterfront-built environments in cities is beneﬁcial to the overall visual expression. Some published articles suggest that the continuous layout of building blocks in a mountainous environment is more pleasing to the eye. This study analyses the ratio of S/L and the distribution of the building blocks in the natural environment and draws conclusions that are slightly different from the above-mentioned results. This shows that there is no ﬁxed standard for the ratio and distribution of the building blocks. It is signiﬁcant to analyze these two standards based on the environment in which the building is located. Architecture is a three-dimensional, environmental, multi-sensory, and temporal domain of human perceptual reality. It brings people’s senses of hearing, touch, sight, smell, and other perceptions into play when engaged in architectural conceptualization and design. These factors, combined with the complex effects of multiple other inﬂuences, can inspire architects to decide to design a building with various forms of expression. However, it is extremely difﬁcult to meaningfully analyse the experimental variables if we begin by combining all the relevant technical aspects, so, in this paper, we select a single element of vision to study architecture. In the future, the relationship between building and the environment can be analysed from other perceptual perspectives, making the study more comprehensive. Author Contributions: Conceptualization, T.F.; data curation, Y.L. and J.G., writing—original draft preparation, Y.L. and J.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This research was funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant no. 2018M641838). Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable. Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Data Availability Statement: All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author. Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank all the anonymous reviewers and editorial board of Buildings for their constructive comments during the review process. Conﬂicts of Interest: The authors declare no conﬂict of interest. Abbreviations AOI Area of Interest S/L The ratio of the shorter side (S) to longer side (L) of building blocks H Hue S Saturation B Brightness FDOTS Fixation duration on the sample FDOTBR Fixation duration on the building region FDOTER Fixation duration on the environment region TTFFOTBR Time to ﬁrst ﬁxation on the building region ARCOTBR Average regression count on the building region ASOTS Average saccade on the sample AFCOTBR Average ﬁxation counts on the building region AFCOTS Average ﬁxation counts on the sample Buildings 2022, 12, 930 18 of 20 Appendix A Buildings 2022, 12, 930 19 of 20 References 1. Huang, H.; Lu, J. Contemporary Value of the Study of Architectural Regionalism. Technol. Wind. 2018, 338, 209. 2. Guo, J.; Liu, S.B.; Liu, X. Construction of visual cognitive computation model for sports psychology based on knowledge atlas. Cogn. Syst. Res. 2018, 52, 521–530. [CrossRef] 3. Chen, W.W. A Model Based on the Physiological Characteristics of the Human Visual System and Application Research; National University of Defense Technology: Changsha, China, 2004. 4. Arnheim, R. Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye; University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA, 1974. 5. Sussman, A.; Hollander, J.B. Cognitive Architecture: Designing for How We Respond to the Built Environment, 2nd ed.; Routledge: London, UK; New York, NY, USA, 2021. 6. Ögçe, H.; Müderrisoglu, ˘ H.; Uzun, S. Visual impact assessment of the Istanbul Land-wall. Indoor Built Environ. 2019, 29, 1359–1373. [CrossRef] 7. Jiang, M.; Hassan, A.; Chen, Q.; Liu, Y. Effects of different landscape visual stimuli on psychophysiological responses in Chinese students. Indoor Built Environ. 2019, 29, 1006–1016. [CrossRef] 8. Wang, S. History of Modern Architecture in the World; China Building Industry Press: Beijing, China, 1999. 9. McHarg, I.L. Design with Nature; Wiley & Sons: New York, NY, USA, 1992. 10. Qin, H. Ichiko Hasegawa: Architecture is an artiﬁcial natural landscape. China Women’s Daily, 6 August 2019; 005. 11. Bognar, B.; Kuma, K. Kengo Kuma: Selected Works; Princeton Architectural Press: New York, NY, USA, 2005. 12. Bognar, B.; Kuma, K. Material Immaterial: The New Work of Kengo Kuma; Princeton Architectural Press: New York, NY, USA, 2009. 13. Ito, T.; Nakazawa, S. Antiarchitecture; Zeng, W., Translator; CITIC Publishing House: Beijing, China, 2014. 14. Pallasmaa, J. The Eyes of the Skin; China Building Industry Press: Beijing, China, 2016. 15. Zumthor, P. Atmosphere; China Building Industry Press: Beijing, China, 2010. 16. Weston, R. Materials, Forms and Architecture; China Water Resources and Hydropower Press: Beijing, China, 2005. 17. Hamlin, T. Forms and Functions of Twentieth-Century Architecture; The Elements of Building; Columbia University Press: New York, NY, USA; Chichester, UK, 1952; Volume I. 18. 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Using Posterior EEG Theta Band to Assess the Effects of Architectural Designs on Landmark Recognition in an Urban Setting. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 2020, 14, 584385. [CrossRef] [PubMed] 25. Chuang, G. Principle of Eye Movement Experiment—Neural Mechanism, Research Methods and Technology of Eye Movement; Central China Normal University Press: Wuhan, China, 2012. 26. Al-Haytham, I. Kitab al-Manazir; Eusebius Episcopius & Heirs of Nicolaus Episcopius: Basel, Switzerland, 1572. 27. Daneshfard, B.; Dalfardi, B.; Nezhad, G.S.M. Ibn al-Haytham (965–1039 AD), the original portrayal of the modern theory of vision. J. Med. Biogr. 2016, 24, 227–231. [CrossRef] [PubMed] 28. Carmichael, L.; Bell, C. A contribution to the history of physiological psychology. Psychol. Rev. 1926, 33, 188–217. [CrossRef] 29. Hollander, J.B.; Purdy, A.; Wiley, A.; Foster, V.; Jacob, R.J.K.; Taylor, H.A.; Brunyé, T.T. Seeing the city: Using eye-tracking technology to explore cognitive responses to the built environment. J. Urban. Int. Res. Placemak. Urban Sustain. 2019, 12, 156–171. [CrossRef] 30. Choi, J.-H. Investigation of human eye pupil sizes as a measure of visual sensation in the workplace environment with a high lighting colour temperature. Indoor Built Environ. 2016, 26, 488–501. [CrossRef] 31. Liu, H. Study on Natural Light and Shadow Control in Sports Field Area Based on Eye Tracker Experiment; Harbin Institute of Technology: Harbin, China, 2014. 32. Zhang, Z. Study on Interface Form of Urban Road Building; Zhejiang University of Technology: Hangzhou, China, 2017. 33. Zhang, L. Study on Planning and Design of Forest Recuperation Footpath in Beijing Area; North China University of Technology: Beijing, China, 2019. 34. Guo, J. Research on Visual Representation of Architectural Interface in Natural Context Based on Eye Movement Experiment. Ph.D. Thesis, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China, 2020. 35. Ashihara, Y. Exterior Design in Architecture; Van Nostrand Reinhold Company: New York, NY, USA, 1981. 36. Bian, Q.; Qi, W.; Liu, Z. A review of Contemporary Eye Movement Recording Techniques. Psychol. Res. 2009, 2, 34–37. 37. Liu, W.; Yuan, X. Human Vision—Study of Eye Movement System. Chin. J. Ergon. 2000, 4, 4144. Buildings 2022, 12, 930 20 of 20 38. Yan, G.; Xiong, J.; Zang, C. Major Eye Movements in Reading Studies—Review of Eye Movement Indexes. Adv. Psychol. Sci. 2013, 21, 589–605. [CrossRef] 39. Djamasbi, S.; Siegel, M.; Tullis, T. Visual hierarchy and viewing behavior: An eye-tracking study. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction HCI 2011, Orlando, FL, USA, 9–14 July 2011; pp. 331–340.

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Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement

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ISSN: 2075-5309
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Buildings – Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

Published: Jun 30, 2022

Keywords: visual expression; integration; distribution of building blocks; the ratio of the shorter side to longer side of building blocks; eye-movement experiment

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Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement

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Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement

Visual Integration Relationship between Buildings and the Natural Environment Based on Eye Movement

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