From soundscapes and smellscapes to visualscapes: circumplex models of indoor environmental perception

Abstract

Understanding how built environments influence their occupants is essential for improving building design and, consequently, people’s well-being and everyday activities. While observational studies and qualitative methods provide rich insight into building–occupant relationships, Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) surveys remain the most widely used tool due to their practicality. Existing surveys focus largely on satisfaction, often overlooking the emotional and multidimensional nature of human–environment interactions. Recent soundscape and smellscape research demonstrates the value of circumplex models, originally developed in environmental psychology, which map perceptual responses within two-dimensional affective spaces and have been incorporated into international standards. These models allow designers to visualise perceptual responses, define design targets, and assess the impact of interventions. Building on these advances, this paper examines the potential of extending the circumplex model for the assessment of visual perception of indoor environments. Through a literature search, we identify key attributes and factors characterising indoor visualscapes and outline the steps toward developing a circumplex model of indoor visual perception. Such a framework could enrich POE practice, support perceptual-based design, and contribute to multisensory approaches to evaluating and shaping built environments through a harmonisation of POE procedures across sensory domains.