This article reports seven new, original findings, based on 4 experiments, 56 environmental scenes, and 71 participants, on how the factors of area over which one could walk (boundary height, boundary porosity, and boundary proximity) influence perceived spaciousness or enclosure. Perceived spaciousness was most strongly related by the area over…

This study of almost 600 students examines the relationship between sense of community and college dormitory architecture on the campus of a small residential liberal arts college in the Northeast. Respondents of all class years completed an online survey that included the Sense of Community Index and the Relationship dimension of the University…

This paper discusses mediation of the crowding experience in architectural interiors by three environmental variables: setting orientation, room color, and visual complexity of the interior. Data indicated interior design does influence space perception and crowding thresholds. (RH)

Observers monocularly viewed a sereis of perspective drawings varying in size of space and boundary height-distance relations. Results supported the hypothesis that perception of openness-enclosure of architectural space is determined by the relation of boundary height to boundary distance and is independent of actual size of space. (DT)

Social and psychological effects of residing in overloaded social environments are discussed. Data are presented suggesting that the interior architecture of the corridor-design dormitories requires residents to interact with too many others, leading residents to experience stress and develop potentially stress-reducing behavior. (JR)

This study sampled 198 studentsin seven dormitories and 55 suites in an effort to elucidate the relationsh ip between social environment as measured by the University Residence Environment Scales, and subject mood states, friendship patterns, and perception of the architecture of dormitories. (JP)

Reports findings of a two-part study on the influence of dormitory architecture on patterns of social relations among college undergraduates. The first part investigates how dormitory architecture affects patterns of freshman acquaintance, while the second part studies changes in these relationships over the college years. (Author/WB)