Implicit Semantic Role of Material on the Quality of Living Space Using Semantic Differential Technique

Abstract

Living spaces have been recognized as one of the functional spaces of housing. Materials and textures are regarded as some of the features of the space. The present study sought to analyze the components of the different materials (brick, stone, glass, metal, concrete, and wood) and their semantic role in living spaces. The materials’ characteristics were coded and then semantic differentials was conducted to quantify the measurement. The significant factors of materials were defined as acceptability, motivative, capability, and resistance for brick; persistence, admiration, and purity for concrete; creativeness, resilience, and capacity for wood; fatigue and limpidity for glass; strength and durability for stone; and minimal and interweaving for metal. The results of the present study indicated that the implicit meaning of acceptability in brick was based on nostalgia, traditionality, and warmth. Furthermore, the industriality, modernity, coldness, and artificiality of concrete represented the explicitness and transparency and the industriality of glass indicated limpidity. The resilience of wood was based on stagnation, strength, and solitude. Finally, the rigidity, beauty, and coldness of stone indicated the power and strength, while simplicity, solitude, and stress-induced demonstrated the tangle of metal that can affect the application and achievement of desired living space.