Emotional Responses to Exposed Concrete in Residential Spaces: Effects of Color and Texture Image

Exposed concrete is widely used in commercial spaces for its aesthetic appeal, durability, and energy efficiency, yet it is often perceived as cold and uninviting in residential settings. This study explores design strategies to improve emotional perceptions of exposed concrete in residential spaces by examining the effects of surface color and texture image. Virtual residential environments were created by combining two surface colors (warm and cool) and two textures (rough and smooth). A total of 80 participants took part in the study, each experiencing two of the four environments using a VR headset. Emotional responses were assessed using seven pairs of semantic differential adjectives, developed through a literature review and a Delphi method. Results showed that surface color significantly influenced perceptions of comfort, with warm environments being rated as more “warm and cozy” and “comfortable and calm” than cool environments. Although the effect of surface texture was not prominent, emotional responses varied depending on how it was paired with surface color. Gender differences were also observed: female participants evaluated the concrete spaces more positively than males, especially under cool color conditions. Based on these findings, design recommendations are proposed to enhance the emotional quality of residential spaces with exposed concrete. This study helps shift perceptions of exposed concrete by demonstrating its potential to create emotionally comforting and environmentally sustainable living environments.