Visual Perception of Architecture According to the Theory of Juliusz Żórawski

Abstract

Visual perception is the most important psychological process which allows to perceive an architectural object. Drawing on the principles of human perception, Juliusz Żórawski - a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology and a famous Polish architect of the interwar period - formed his theory during World War II. The purpose of this article is to introduce the main assumptions of his theory. According to Żórawski, every person perceives the world in an individual and unique way. Transmission of the perceived images to another person requires working out a simplified perception code. This code is not based on the meaning of context but on the sequence of perceptual decoding, common for all people. The most important element in this code is the arrangement of characteristic points, called “communication points,” which hold the viewer’s attention. Decoding the points as a sequence of glances, which move from a point to a point creates a set of straight lines. This set of straight lines is the code for reading the spatial structure of an architectural object. Therefore, an important element of any architectural design is to propose a set of highly explicit focal points. In conclusion, the essence of Juliusz Żórawski’s theory lies in the characteristics of the human psyche like the search for straight lines, trying to understand what is being seen, the perception of the outside world as a set of arrangements against the surrounding background. It should be emphasized that the main elements of his theory are confirmed by contemporary neuropsychological findings. This shows how many disciplines of science the art of architecture comprises.