Environmental Indicators of Safety Perception: A Multidimensional Analysis of Spatial Readability and Sensory Inputs

Abstract

Although architectural space is often seen as a unified set of physical arrangements, it possesses a multi-layered structure that shapes human behavior and influences the sense of security. A person’s experience of safety cannot be defined solely by structural stability or technical standards; perception of space, the manner in which it is experienced, and the behaviors individuals adopt within that environment are essential components of this feeling. Therefore, safety is not only a technical outcome of architectural decisions, but also emerges from the emotional and cognitive relationship between the user and the space.

The research examines users’ behavioral responses to a space alongside various design variables. It demonstrates that the elements influencing perception of security encompass a broader scope than previously thought. Legibility, the quality of light, the combination of color and texture, volumetric proportions, and the visibility of escape routes all directly shape an individual’s perception of the environment. When these elements combine with cultural codes and symbolic meanings, security becomes not only a physical construct but also an experiential one.

This study combines behavioral sciences, environmental psychology, and phenomenological approaches to address architectural safety as a multifaceted phenomenon. Consequently, safety is not considered merely a design input limited to technical measures, but rather a value that is constantly reshaped in the human-space interaction. This approach, which emphasizes the designer’s ethical responsibility, suggests that safety in architectural production should be addressed holistically and from a human-centered perspective.