Assessment of Window Size and Layout Impact on a View Quality Perception in a Virtual Reality Environment

Window views are key factors that affect buildings' occupants psychological and physiological comfort and wellbeing. Window design should consider the holistic impacts on building energy, lighting performance, and the connection to the outdoors provided by the view which is usually overlooked. In this study, view perception, stress recovery, physiological, and psychological affect were evaluated in virtual environments of five different conditions varying the physical dimensions of a window located in the same office space with an urban view. This allowed three window-to-wall ratios (i.e. 10%, 20%, and 30%) and two different window layouts (i.e. narrow and wide) to be compared. Twenty-five participants were recruited. Subjective self-assessments on view perception (e.g. content and complexity), self-assessment and physiological measures (e.g. skin conductance and heart rate variability) stress recovery besides psychological affect were measured. Participants performed a Stroop-test to induce stress that was immediately followed by a period of recovery facilitated by exposure to one of the five window conditions. Results showed that increased window size advocated higher view perception assessments, increased stress recovery, and positive psychological affect. Measurements of skin conductance and heart rate variability also corroborated these findings. Differences in window layout were also revealed, but only for 10% WWRs. Therefore, WWR is not a reliable indicator for view perception for small window sizes, indicating that layout preference is dependent on window size. This study highlights the importance of considering view perception for occupant health and wellbeing when sizing window openings, since these may not necessarily align with other design criteria.

Automated summary

This study examines the impact of window views on the psychological and physiological comfort and wellbeing of building occupants. The results show that increasing the size of the window leads to higher view perception evaluations, improved stress recovery, and positive psychological affect. Differences in window layout were also found, but only for a 10% window-wall ratio.