Abstract
The unexpected expansion of the built environment has allowed for high-density and high-rise buildings. As high-density dwellings compromise privacy, the requirements for balancing between interacting with others and protecting privacy are increasing. In this respect, Korean traditional architecture provides privacy through a proper balance of openness and closure in the courtyard garden. However, it is difficult to analyze privacy quantitatively, as it depends on the individual experience and psychology. The analyzing for visual privacy is a significant issue to resolve a conflict with others and enhance human's comfort. Therefore, this paper addresses the assumption that visual privacy could ultimately be quantified based on the concept of prospect and refuge, one of the design strategies for psychological wellbeing. The purpose of this study is to examine visual privacy in the royal palace in Korea, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. It measures spatial configuration in each buildings using space syntax, and the area ratio of prospect and refuge through an image analysis with Adobe Photoshop CS6. The mathematical properties of connectivity, depth, control value, integration and the area ratio of prospect and refuge are partially available for quantifying visual privacy in buildings.