SEATING RATIO OF PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC SPACES: EFFECTS ON USERS' PERCEPTIONS, IMPRESSIONS, AND JUDGMENT OF SUITABILITY FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Parametric design requires an understanding of the effects the manipulation of a given parameter will have on users. However, there is still little research on the relationship between public spaces’ physical elements and their effects on users, so urban squares are designed based on the designer’s aesthetical aspirations and other unresearched factors. This study used immersive virtual environments and allowed participants to move around freely in the environment to investigate the effects of two parameters: seating ratio and environment scale, across 23 different evaluation scales. Stimuli used controlled for other variables, and results showed that increasing seating ratio past a certain point worsens users’ perceptions and impressions of the environment, providing evidence for policymakers’ guidelines regarding the amount of seating to install in public squares with implications for the design of privately owned public spaces as well.Keywords: seating ratio, privately owned public space, plaza design, environment, scale, immersive virtual environments.