Luminous Atmospheres 360: Comparing VR HMDs and UHD Screens for Reproducing Architectural Daylight Atmospheres

This paper studies the potential of VR HMDs to replicate subjective impressions of luminous atmospheres using 360° photographs. We compare the perception of luminous atmospheres in two settings—VR HMD and UHD screen—against real iconic buildings. Evaluations were conducted through three distinct experiments: in seven real indoors of iconic buildings, using 360° photographs of these indoors viewed in a VR HMD, and using 2D images from these indoors displayed on a UHD screen. Results indicate that VR HMDs are a promising tool for studying luminous atmospheres, providing a closer perception of real-world conditions.