Parameters of spatial comfort in architecture

Abstract

The perception of reality is experienced through the senses, where each sense contributes to the way we form our picture of the feeling of comfort. When it comes to the perception of space and spatiality, the most dominant are visual and tactile influences, providing the information that outbalance other senses. A widely accepted opinion in science is that there are several main categories of comfort - visual, thermic, auditory, olfactory and hygienic. In contrast to previously mentioned terms, spatial comfort has not been clearly defined, even though it is one of the key terms when discussing human needs and functionality of space in architecture. Along with being widely used in practice and the fact that a clear scientific determination of this term is still lacking, its use is understood as the equivalent of comfort of a certain space. Our paper analyzed and systematized most significant parameters that can be applied to enable achievement of spatial comfort, which does not necessarily mean that such a spatial comfort will in fact be achieved, as this depends largely on individual perception of a space user. Aiming to clarify the term spatial comfort and determine its precise definition, the main contribution of this paper is the analysis of parameters that can contribute to spatial comfort, as well as reexamination of the thesis that spatial comfort includes the feeling of coziness and content resulting from physical, visual and tactile qualities of a certain space.