The Nexus of the Objective Assessment of Beauty and the Subjective Aesthetic Cognition

Abstract

Exploring the aesthetic appraisal of surfaces through texture and the balance of the shapes and colors is a significant issue in reaching aesthetic evaluation, and setting the evaluators on common ground and a solid reference point in judging aesthetic values. This paper aims to find a guideline for designers to understand the characteristics of beautiful texture of surfaces for human well-being in inner spaces. Moreover, the study approached case study methodology to evaluate the aesthetic value of the texture in inner spaces objectively and subjectively. The objective method was conducted by using Birkhoff’s aesthetic measure, and subjective method by asking for the personal opinions of the professionals. Hence, three works of interior architectural students have been selected as case studies for this purpose. The comparison of the results from both objective and subjective methods has been carried out and the results have been extrapolated. The results showed positive credibility for Birkhoff's aesthetic measure tool in comparing different case studies aesthetically with the aesthetic cognition of the professionals. The study also, concluded that the aesthetic value of surface texture is prompted by enhancing order and decreasing complexity.