Analysing user daylight preferences in heritage buildings using virtual reality

Abstract

Technology has always been creating effective ways to support human decisions. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged to engage users in a simulated world, and this has gained the interest of a wide variety of users in the heritage industry. A historical case study built in the early 19th century is considered for an adaptive reuse exhibition. The palace is located in Cairo, Egypt, and named after Prince Omar Tosson. The current palace state incorporates a smashed top-lit zone, which is being studied and analyzed for daylighting adequacy. Three simulated distinct optimum skylight configurations are suggested for the redesign where the selection should not be based solely on simulation data, but should consider real-user preferences. Most daylight design criteria are previously based on simulation data that do not necessarily indicate the users’ preferences. But utilizing user interactive tools such as IVR to test daylight redesign options, a whole new dimension is provided. In this study, the VR users’ survey data is statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), where results revealed that the assessment attributes succeeded in reflecting the users’ preferences; which, motivated designers to consider potential users’ daylight preferences in reused spaces. The paper highlights the most significant emotional attributes that provide cost-effective and reliable information concerned with the performance of daylight in IVR before design implementation. This study compares and analyzes the effect of three skylight designs (Cases A, B & C) on the users’ perception before design implementation using (IVR) post-survey. Forty-eight participants have contributed to the study, providing their feedback on six attributes namely: Pleasant, Contrasting, Brightness, Uniform Distribution, Visual Comfort, and Satisfaction. Those attributes are evaluated for the three cases in space using five scale rating values to reveal that the “Pleasant” attribute is most reliable in the study to reflect the users’ preferences for design Case B.

Health Implications of Virtual Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Transferability of Findings from Neuroarchitecture

“…16).) [101][102][103], window size and placement [22,98], daylight [104], navigation signage [24,105], rectilinear and curvilinear architectural form [106], and viewing location [98]. Conversely, a growing body of research outlining the stress-inducing effects of architectural features has evidenced that exposure to varied room proportions [28,29], wall curvature [29,30], lighting conditions [24], and window arrangement and size [28,94], regularly provoke stress responses in humans without their conscious perception.…”

Evaluation of Occupants’ Visual Perception in Day Lit Scenes: A Virtual Reality Experiment

“…Participants' subjective and objective visual responses and participants' interaction with the virtual environment have been studied vastly [32,40,41]. Subjective assessments included questions on luminous environment appearance (brightness, colortemperature, distribution, contrast, …), high-order perceptions (pleasantness, interest, spaciousness, excitement and complexity, …) [35,36,42] and perceived presence in the virtual and real space [31].…”

A Review of Subjective Assessments in Virtual Reality for Lighting Research

“…The effects of different skylight solutions for a heritage building were investigated through IVR by Marzouk et al [55]. The virtual models of the space with three different skylights were modeled by means of Rhino and Grasshopper, and then displayed in the HMD utilizing the application VR-Prospect.…”

“…Attributes linked to the interest [35,38,46,47,53], pleasantness [35,46,47,53] and brightness [35,46,47] Type of factor-analyses [29] Within-subjects [35] Within-subjects [38] Within-subjects [42] Within-subjects [47] Within-subjects Between-subjects [46] Within-subject [51] Within-subjects Between-subjects [36] Within-subjects [53] Within-subjects Between-subjects Office [35] Office [38] Office [42] Urban space [47] Office [46] Office [51] Urban Park [36] Office [53] Office [43] Urban Park [55] Heritage building…”

“…[53] 10-point unipolar [43] 7-point bipolar [55] 5-point unipolar Data normality test [47] Visual examination of the residuals' and variables' normal probability plots [38] Kolmogorov Heydarian et al [22] present an approach of collecting end-user lighting-related behavior in a virtual environment, integrating it with building performance simulation (BPS) tools, then utilizing user preference data to evaluate design choices that satisfy preferences and reduce energy consumption. The lighting preferences, skills (reading speed and comprehension), personality factors, and environmental views of 90 participants were gathered using IVRs to assess this method's usability.…”