DEPTH PERCEPTION IN REAL AND PICTORIAL SPACES A Computational Framework to Represent and Simulate the Built Environment

Architectural design is often mediated on two-dimensional representation systems and envisioned three-dimensionally in the pictorial space. The developments of advanced digital technologies have enabled us to create the pictorial representations of un-built design projects that can appear as real as photographs. The visually appealing pictures produced by photorealistic rendering tools are useful for visualizing the form and the spatial layout of the proposed architectural design; but they may be inadequate and misleading for simulating the perceptual qualities of space. This paper draws from the recent developments in computer graphics (physically based renderings and perceptually based tone mapping techniques) and proposes a computational framework to faithfully represent and simulate pictorial spaces. Guidelines are provided for generating images with appropriate representation and simulation techniques so that architects can make informed design decisions about the perceptual qualities of their designs and researchers can study depth perception in computer environments.