Dr. Mostafa Behzadfar Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development 2008-5079 17 46 2024 06 09 Comparative Study on Visual Preferences of General Audiences in Architectural and Art Styles from an Aesthetical Point of View Comparative Study on Visual Preferences of General Audiences in Architectural and Art Styles from an Aesthetical Point of View 39 48 196206 10.22034/aaud.2024.298544.2525 FA Seyed Alireza Nasehi Ph.D. in Architecture, Architecture Department, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0003-0110-8999 Mahnaz Mahmoudi Zarandi Associate Professor, Architecture Department, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author). 0000-0003-3623-1874 Hossein Zabihi Associate Professor, Department of Urban Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2021 08 07 These are the main analyses of aesthetic criteria and their factors in architecture and art. These viewpoints have been defined in the frame of theory and stylist statements. Classification of geometric features and visual compositions of architectural and art styles allow us to identify elements affecting beauty perception. In addition to theoretical analyses and stylistic theories, the outcome of various artistic and architectural styles must be assessed in a general judgment. The stylistic basic and aesthetical theories can be verified in this assessment. Moreover, visual preferences from the viewpoint of untrained audiences are determined by architects and designers. The factors defined as aesthetic criteria in the opinion of professional artists and architects must be ultimately judged by the public. Hence, principles and features of various architectural and art styles were reviewed as research background, and then one hundred students unrelated to artistic and architectural disciplines were selected to be tested randomly. In this test, images of some landmarks (famous monuments) with different architectural styles were judged by the participants. The results were analyzed statistically. The visual preferences of men and women were compared, and results indicated many different aesthetical preferences between them. However, most audiences showed more tendency towards folding, organic, and sculptural styles, respectively. The most outstanding effective visual characteristics included curved lines and surfaces, flexible and fluid forms, legibility, integrity and unity in details, balance, integration with nature and naturalism, proportion, and harmony. These characteristics are inclusive and independent of stylistic divisions. These are the main analyses of aesthetic criteria and their factors in architecture and art. These viewpoints have been defined in the frame of theory and stylist statements. Classification of geometric features and visual compositions of architectural and art styles allow us to identify elements affecting beauty perception. In addition to theoretical analyses and stylistic theories, the outcome of various artistic and architectural styles must be assessed in a general judgment. The stylistic basic and aesthetical theories can be verified in this assessment. Moreover, visual preferences from the viewpoint of untrained audiences are determined by architects and designers. The factors defined as aesthetic criteria in the opinion of professional artists and architects must be ultimately judged by the public. Hence, principles and features of various architectural and art styles were reviewed as research background, and then one hundred students unrelated to artistic and architectural disciplines were selected to be tested randomly. In this test, images of some landmarks (famous monuments) with different architectural styles were judged by the participants. The results were analyzed statistically. The visual preferences of men and women were compared, and results indicated many different aesthetical preferences between them. However, most audiences showed more tendency towards folding, organic, and sculptural styles, respectively. The most outstanding effective visual characteristics included curved lines and surfaces, flexible and fluid forms, legibility, integrity and unity in details, balance, integration with nature and naturalism, proportion, and harmony. These characteristics are inclusive and independent of stylistic divisions. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_196206_0e4b5974a7c74bc1af7f6af7d391ab5a.pdf