The RESONANCES project achieved the following key results in studying our emotional responses to architectural atmospheres:
1. We improved the theoretical framework about architectural atmospheres to advance with (neuro)physiological experimentation by building archives of bibliographical quotes and references, publishing essays and books, and promoting a research network focused on the emotional involvement with architectural environments.
2. We formalized an architectural theory on atmospheric perception by working in the interdisciplinary domain of architecture and neuroscience, collaborating with designers, philosophers, and scientists, and performing theoretical and experimental investigations.
3. Since affect-based stimuli specifically conceived to examine architectural spaces are missing, we crafted and tested ATLAS, a database of visual atmospheric stimuli. It collects a series of spatial patterns born from a systematic selection of generators of atmosphere. Generators of atmosphere are architectural features designed to afford atmospheric effects (such as lights, colors, materials, and proportions). ATLAS is an open-access tool that supports researchers interested in studying emotional reactions to architectural configurations by providing reliable, standardized, and reproducible stimuli available as images, videos, and VR models.
4. We designed and performed a series of (neuro)physiological signal-based experiments to recognize and measure atmospheric emotions by combining first-person approaches (self-report questionnaires) and third-person methodologies (heart rate, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and eye movement monitoring + EEG recording).
5. Results collected through behavioral and (neuro)physiological tests generated open-access databases addressing the current lack of empirical data.
6. We shared competence acquired in analyzing atmospheric dynamics from a (neuro)physiological perspective via conference attendances, seminars with graduate students, theses supervision, and peer-reviewed publications.
7. We advanced expertise in atmospheric design and phenomenography, promoted neuroscientific training for architecture students, incentivized research-informed design approaches, and set up an international research network.
