Measuring visual stress patterns in architectural façades in Seoul across different historic time periods

Abstract Architectural façades significantly influence human health as primary interfaces between individuals and urban visual environments, however neurophysiological responses to architectural features across historical periods and at varied viewing distances remains an area yet to be examined. This study identifies visual stressors in Seoul’s building façades across five historical epochs and examines how design characteristics influence visual stress at different viewing distances. This study analyzed 77 façade samples using Visual Stress Analysis (ViStA) across five architectural periods: Late Joseon Dynasty, Japanese Colonial, Post-Korean War Reconstruction, High-Density Urban Expansion, and Digital-Transitional Era. Standardized photographs at three distances (10–15, 20–30, 40–60 m) were assessed using Fourier-based computational methods. In doing so, this research identifies specific design characteristics within each epoch that correlate with distinct patterns that may be visually stressful. Traditional Korean architecture demonstrates a spatial profile associated with organic surface variations and traditional screening systems, while Colonial period façades exhibit a spatial profile linked to systematic fenestration and regularized compositions. Post-war reconstruction architecture shows spatial features correlated with repetition and standardized building elements, whereas the Post-Industrial Transition period (1980–2000) displays the highest peak visual stress levels—associated with contrasting material juxtapositions and complex geometric arrangements. Contemporary architecture reveals visual stress characteristics linked to advanced glazing systems, perforated metal cladding, and computationally derived patterns; nonetheless, these systems afford fine-grained control over spatial frequency and contrast that can reduce predicted stress despite their complexity. The study integrates image-based computational analysis with architectural feature identification to offer insights into how specific design elements, rather than historical periods per se, influence neurophysiological responses in urban visual environments.