Changbae Park

Architectural design decisions in educational buildings often rely on spatial parameters such as ceiling height and window layout, yet systematic methods for evaluating their influence on user experience during early design stages remain limited. This study investigates how spatial height, window position, and window-to-wall ratio affect students’ classroom usage intention (UI) through the mediating role of psychological experience. An evidence-based pre-occupancy evaluation approach was developed by integrating immersive virtual reality (VR) experiments with structural equation modeling (SEM). The study employed 61 university students for evaluating parametrically controlled virtual classrooms to examine perceived affective and cognitive experience (ACE), including emotional comfort, attentional focus, and spatial attractiveness, as well as classroom usage intention (UI). Using the data collected through VR experiment and followed by a questionnaire survey, using a stimulus–organism–response framework, the study modeled transmission pathways from spatial stimuli to behavioral outcomes. The results indicate that ACE is the strongest and most direct predictor of UI, highlighting psychological experience as the key pathway translating environmental exposure into behavioral preference. The relationship between perceived architectural attributes and psychological responses was context-dependent, suggesting a potential divergence between analytical spatial judgment and holistic emotional experience under explicit evaluation tasks. VR experience quality significantly influenced ACE but did not directly affect UI. The findings suggest the value of integrating VR and SEM as a pre-design evaluation tool and emphasize prioritizing experiential coherence as a measurable criterion for early-stage decision-making, rather than establishing direct causal links to long-term experiential responses.

Integrating new visualization methods based on virtual reality (VR) in the design evaluation process remains a challenge despite its expanding use in architectural design in recent years. This article proposes a VR-based evaluation model to improve the efficiency and quality of the overall architectural design process. By adopting a structural equation model in conjunction with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study examines users’ intention and perceived ease of use of VR in the design evaluation process based on a questionnaire survey using the proposed VR model of architectural and non-architectural professionals and students. The findings of the study show that the output quality plays a significant role in increasing behavioral intention to use the system, and perceived ease of use has a positive effect on perceived immersion and perceived usefulness of VR in the evaluation process. The study illustrates the importance of understanding “user perspective” and “willingness to use” in the development of VR-based systems to increase their practical use in architecture and design fields.

With the rapid development of high-density urban areas and the construction of high-rise complexes, the number of skybridges has increased during the last 20 years. While skybridges in high-rise building complexes have been attracting considerable attention, a few studies have been conducted on state-of-the-art skybridges, but not enough typological research on skybridges has been made based on actual cases. In this study, the typological difference among skybridges sharing common properties was verified using a statistical method based on the cases of skybridges in Asia. The completion year, length, width, and relative elevation of skybridges were used for the statistical analysis. Based on the results, six skybridge types, i.e., open circulation, open sky park, open programmatic, enclosed rooftop programmatic, enclosed circulation, and enclosed programmatic, and their characteristics were derived and described by a three-dimensional plot. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of skybridges, and it can be used as a reference material for researchers to understand how high-rise complexes with skybridges will evolve and change their urban environment. It will also help architects to design skybridges and communicate with clients and the public on their value.