A Systematic Review: Affective Perception on Urban Facades

2025-09-26

AI Summary

Existing theories inadequately explain how urban building façades influence core affective dimensions—valence (pleasure–displeasure) and arousal (activation–deactivation)—particularly neglecting intangible attributes such as narrative and cultural symbolism. Method: We systematically reviewed 61 empirical studies following the PRISMA framework and integrated eye-tracking, CNN-based image analysis, and parametric modeling to construct a multi-scale façade-attribute–affective-response association model. Contribution/Results: We identified complexity, materiality, symmetry, and biomimetic integration as novel, empirically validated predictors of affective responses. Furthermore, we propose a “quantitative–qualitative hybrid pathway” to bridge the theoretical gap between objective physical features and underlying psychological mechanisms. This work provides actionable, evidence-based guidelines for affective façade design, thereby advancing urban environmental psychology and supporting psychological well-being in cities.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Affective Computing
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Preferences
• Computer Vision: Visual Reasoning & Symbolic Representations

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Fairness-aware retrieval and ranking
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Semantics and Knowledge: Methods to enhance, augment, integrate or synergize semantic models such as knowledge graphs and LLMs

Abstract

Architectural facades critically shape affective perception in urban environments. Here, affect is understood as a multidimensional psychological construct encompassing valence (pleasure-displeasure) and arousal (activation-deactivation). Despite growing interest in affective responses to the built environment, the affective impact of urban architectural facades remains under-theorized. This study conducts a systematic review of 61 works, guided by the PRISMA framework, to identify which facade attributes most strongly predict affective responses operationalized as valence and arousal. Through multi-scalar synthesis and knowledge mapping, the review highlights complexity, materiality, symmetry, and bibliophilic integration as consistent predictors of affective perception across urban, building, and detail levels. Computational tools such as eye-tracking, CNN-based analysis, and parametric modeling are increasingly employed, yet remain fragmented and often overlook intangible dimensions like narrative coherence and cultural symbolism. By consolidating cross-disciplinary evidence, this review proposes a theoretical model linking physical design features to affective outcomes, and identifies methodological gaps, particularly the lack of integrative, mixed-method approaches. The findings offer a foundation for affect-aware facade design, advancing evidence-based strategies to support psychological well-being in urban contexts.

Problem

• Identifying facade attributes predicting affective responses
• Systematically reviewing affective perception of urban facades
• Linking physical design features to psychological outcomes

Innovation

• Systematic review identifies facade attributes predicting affect
• Multi-scalar synthesis reveals complexity materiality symmetry predictors
• Computational tools include eye-tracking CNN analysis parametric modeling