Seasons of the Year and Perceptions of Public Spaces

Abstract

Public spaces exert a direct influence on quality of life, which is why their qualitative and quantitative attributes should be evaluated. In the literature, public spaces have been assessed with various methods, but external conditions, including season, weather, and time of day, and internal conditions, such as lighting and color, have rarely been evaluated. These factors affect the appearance of public spaces, and they can play an important role in assessments and perceptions of space. The presence of such relationships was verified by evaluating the same public space in four seasons of the year. Assessments were based on color photographs. Public spaces were evaluated in a survey where questionnaires were filled out by the respondents at time intervals. The survey was anonymous, and it was conducted online. The population sample comprised 111 people, including local residents and people residing in other parts of Poland. The results of the study clearly indicate that seasons directly affect perceptions of public spaces.