Preference for Curvilinear Contour in Interior Architectural Spaces

Author(s)
Oshin Vartanian, Gorka Navarrete, Anjan Chatterjee, Lars Brorson Fich, Helmut Leder, Modroño Cristián, Nicolai Rostrup, Martin Skov, Guido Corradi, Marcos Nadal
Abstract

Much evidence suggests that preference for curvilinear visual contour is robust. We collected data from experts (i.e., self-identified architects and designers) and nonexperts to test the hypothesis that expertise moderates one’s sensitivity to curvilinear contour within architectural spaces. When assessing beauty, experts found rectilinear spaces less beautiful than curvilinear spaces, whereas contour had no effect on beauty judgments among nonexperts. In contrast, when making approach-avoidance decisions, nonexperts were more likely to opt to enter curvilinear than rectilinear spaces, whereas contour had no effect on approach-avoidance decisions among experts. These results bolster the case for the importance of contour as an important and potentially adaptive feature in architecture and design, but stress the impact of expertise on its aesthetic and motivational relevance.

Organisation(s)
Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology
External organisation(s)
University of Toronto, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, University of Pennsylvania, Aalborg University (AAU), Universidad de La Laguna, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, University of Copenhagen, University of the Balearic Islands
Journal
Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts
Volume
13
Pages
110-116
No. of pages
7
ISSN
1931-3896
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000150
Publication date
02-2019
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501001 General psychology, 501011 Cognitive psychology
Keywords
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/preference-for-curvilinear-contour-in-interior-architectural-spaces(8f1a225b-7274-49a6-b4cf-48211b5082bd).html