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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Environmental Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1423466
This article is part of the Research Topic Greening Urban Spaces and Human Health, Volume II View all 18 articles

Emotionally-Oriented Design in Museums: A Case Study of the Jewish Museum Berlin

Provisionally accepted
Zhihui Zhang Zhihui Zhang 1Jing Lu Jing Lu 2*Xiuying Zhang Xiuying Zhang 3*
  • 1 Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
  • 2 Yunnan Municipal Construction Engineering Consulting Co., LTD, kunming, China
  • 3 The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Region, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: This study examines the intricate interplay between architectural design and visitor emotional responses at the Jewish Museum Berlin, focusing on how specific spatial elements such as the Holocaust Tower, Garden of Exile, The Voids, and The Axis elicit varied affective experiences. The research aims to extend the discourse on environmental psychology and architectural empathy, particularly within the context of memorial museums.Method: Employing a non-intrusive approach, the study gathered emotional response data using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) from 113 museum visitors, with 102 valid responses analyzed. Environmental conditions such as light, sound, and spatial design were quantitatively measured to correlate with emotional responses captured at the end of visitors' tours across the designated museum spaces.Results: Findings revealed that architectural elements significantly influence emotional responses. High levels of negative emotions like fear and anxiety were markedly evident in the Holocaust Tower due to its minimal lighting and stark concrete structure. Conversely, the Garden of Exile induced more positive emotions through its use of natural light and greenery, emphasizing the role of biophilic design in enhancing emotional well-being. Statistical analysis supported these observations, with variations in emotional impact across different spaces demonstrating the profound effect of architectural design on visitor experiences.This study confirms that a variety of design elements and spatial strategies not only facilitate the presentation of historical narratives but also actively sculpt the emotional involvement and experiences of visitors.

    Keywords: Emotionally-Oriented Design, Emotional architecture, museum design, architectural psychology, visitor experience, environmental psychology

    Received: 25 Apr 2024; Accepted: 18 Jun 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Lu and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Jing Lu, Yunnan Municipal Construction Engineering Consulting Co., LTD, kunming, China
    Xiuying Zhang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Region, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.