Abstract
This study attempted to determine people’s visual preference for urban landscapes in Malaysia. In an experimental study, 120 students from three departments in Universiti Putra Malaysia rated 4 predictors of preference (Coherence, complexity, legibility and mystery) and a criterion variable (preference) of 24 color slides depicting urban built landscape (UBL) and urban natural landscape (UNL) scenes. The results of this study showed that the mean preference and the four predictor ratings were significantly higher for UNL than UBL and it confirmed the role of urban nature in urban landscapes. Also, the results showed that all the predictors of preference could explain a large amount of variance in preference, except for “legibility” in UBL. “Mystery” and “complexity” are found to be the most influential predictors of preference in both categories. Furthermore, “coherence” in UNL notably predicts more preference than in UBL. However, knowledge about preferences and the characteristics of urban landscapes contributes to the designing of an enjoyable environment by designers or planners, and to the decision makers who manage the landscape settings for their users. Key words: Preference, urban landscape, visual preference, predictors of preference.
Highlights
One of the basic demands of modern society is to have a high quality of life, in urban settings (Simoni, 2006)
The results of this study showed that the mean preference and the four predictor ratings were significantly higher for urban natural landscape (UNL) than urban built landscape (UBL) and it confirmed the role of urban nature in urban landscapes
The results showed that all the predictors of preference could explain a large amount of variance in preference, except for “legibility” in UBL
Summary
One of the basic demands of modern society is to have a high quality of life, in urban settings (Simoni, 2006). In addition to nature as an important content of preferred environments, informational processes theory states that the arrangement of the contents in a visual landscape significantly affects people’s preferences for landscapes (Kaplan et al, 1998; Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989). The informational processes theory has been empirically tested in many researches about people’s preference for natural settings, urban areas, mix areas, as well as urban nature The results of these empirical studies showed that the majority of people preferred natural scenes over built environments scenes (Hernandez et al, 2001; Kaplan et al, 1972; Laumann et al, 2001; Purcell et al, 2001; Staats et al, 2003; Stamps, 1996). H3: There is a significant relationship between the four predictors of preference and preference
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
