The aim of this study is to determine the preferences of Polish society towards building facades depending on the degree of the composition regularity of the facade elements. The subject matter is inspired by the authors’ observations in relation to the current architectural trends. The purposefulness of the conducted research results from several issues. Firstly, the reports of psychology and neurosciences clearly indicate the universality of certain preferences towards visual attributes of objects (e.g., in relation to abstract symmetric patterns), resulting from biological conditions. Secondly, residential, multi-family architecture is by definition designed for a wide group of anonymous users whose expectations must be met. One of the dimensions of the above-mentioned expectations is the visual dimension, partially dependent on the composition of the facade. In the course of the conducted research, it is shown that facades with a regular composition are assessed as more attractive than those with irregular compositions. Moreover, irregular facades evoked a negative effect of a significantly greater force than the positive effect in the case of regular facades. The above-described discoveries shed, in the authors’ opinion, a completely new light on the contemporary work of architects. It is extremely important to adapt the visual dimension of architecture to the expectations of its recipients, while taking care of its values and quality as a field of art.

The present study investigates the degree of visual regularity perceived by viewers in architectural compositions, specifically concerning the type of pattern used. The research is grounded in psychological and neuropsychological universal determinants of visual perception, particularly the perception of visual regularity. The study is based on an empirical survey that involved 48 participants who rated various compositions on a Likert scale. The stimuli presented consisted of a typology of compositional patterns of facades of Polish multifamily buildings developed by Malewczyk, Taraszkiewicz, and Czyż in 2022. The survey results were subjected to statistical analyses, which revealed a clear relationship between the type of composition and its perceived regularity. This implies that architects can predict the perceived regularity of a composition based on its type, which is crucial since visual regularity is closely linked to the sense of spatial order and aesthetic value. Both of these aspects are vital for perceiving architecture as a built environment. The study highlights the significance of visual perception in architectural design, particularly how the public perceives composition types.

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This article investigates whether the visual regularity of a building's facade can objectively be expressed by a numerical value. Grounded in universal neurobiological principles and modern digital image processing methods from mathematical and information theories, this study analyzes 245 architectural compositions using an interdisciplinary approach that combines perception, mathematics, programming, and architectural theory. A coefficient was derived with an almost ideal average correlation to regularity and minimal variability. Building on these findings, an open-source computer tool was developed to measure the regularity of flat architectural compositions. These results enhance our understanding of compositional perception and support the development of advanced architectural design tools, including generative algorithms.