Aims:
Visual perception is a fundamental component of human experience in architectural and urban environments. The way people perceive a space is influenced not only by its physical characteristics but also by the physiological mechanisms of vision and the manner in which visual information is selected and processed. Nevertheless, many criteria for organizing architectural elements and determining spatial proportions are still primarily based on physical and normative principles, with limited attention to actual visual behavior. From this perspective, viewing angle, observer position, distance from surrounding façades, and the location of architectural elements within the visual field may affect the distribution of visual attention. The present study aims to explain the role of viewing angle in visual perception by analyzing users’ visual attention patterns in the Azadi Courtyard of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. It specifically examines how changes in observer position and visual field influence attention toward architectural and environmental elements. The study also seeks to investigate the relationship between the theoretical concept of visual comfort and empirical eye-movement patterns in order to provide a more objective understanding of visual perception in architectural courtyards.
Materials & Methods: This study employed an applied and descriptive-analytical approach combining theoretical analysis with an empirical eye-tracking experiment. The Azadi Courtyard of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza was selected as the case study, and three 360-degree visual sequences were prepared for presentation in a virtual reality environment. The first and second sequences represented viewpoints near the entrance of the courtyard, while the third represented a viewpoint located in the middle of the courtyard with a more direct view toward the Golden Iwan. Twenty voluntary participants, including 10 males and 10 females, participated in the experiment. Each visual sequence was presented for 20 seconds in the same order for all participants. Eye movements were recorded using a FOVE eye-tracking headset following individual calibration, and the collected data were analyzed using Gaze Analysis software. Visual attention was evaluated based on two main eye-movement measures, Fixation and Saccade. The analysis was conducted using five Areas of Interest (AOIs): building mass, landmark elements, sky, paving, and vegetation. A theoretical visual comfort zone was also considered to examine the relationship between observer position, viewing angle, distance from façades, and the extent of the visual field.
Findings: The findings revealed differences in visual attention patterns across the three viewing positions. The first, second, and third images generated 2,143, 1,854, and 2,351 fixations, respectively, indicating the highest level of visual activity in the third position. Building masses and prominent architectural elements were the main areas of visual attention. In the first and second images, building masses received the highest numbers of fixations, with 945 and 744 fixations, respectively. In the third image, however, landmark elements became the dominant focus, receiving 957 fixations compared with 845 fixations for the building mass. The visual comfort zone also represented a substantial part of users’ gaze patterns. In the third position, it accounted for 1,547 fixations and 93.4% of total fixation duration, which was the highest value among the three viewpoints. In contrast, the sky, paving, and vegetation received considerably fewer fixations. These findings suggest that visual attention is not determined simply by the presence of an element within the visual field. Rather, visual prominence, spatial position, architectural significance, and the relationship between the element and the observer’s viewing angle appear to influence the allocation of visual attention.
Conclusion: The results indicate that visual perception in the Azadi Courtyard is shaped through the interaction of observer position, viewing angle, visual field, distance from surrounding façades, and the visual characteristics of architectural elements. The greater attention directed toward the Golden Iwan and minaret from the central viewpoint suggests that the appropriate positioning of prominent architectural elements within the visual field may contribute to stronger visual concentration. The high level of fixation within the visual comfort zone at this position further suggests a potentially favorable relationship between viewing conditions and visual attention. The findings also highlight the distinction between visibility and attention: although all environmental components were present within the visual field, they did not receive equal levels of attention. Building masses and landmark elements attracted substantially more fixations than vegetation, paving, and sky. Therefore, eye-tracking technology can provide an empirical method for investigating visual behavior and complement conventional approaches such as field observation and spatial analysis. The findings may contribute to the assessment and design of courtyards and other architectural spaces by providing a behavioral basis for understanding how viewing angle, observer position, and the placement of prominent elements influence visual experience and attention.