EXISTENTIAL FEARS AND VISUAL PERCEPTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ENVIRONMENT

The study is devoted to the analysis of the mechanisms of influence of visual characteristics of the architectural environment on existential fears in humans. Existential fears are understood as a separate group of fears associated with the inner essence of a person, namely: fear of death, time, loneliness, experiences of meaning and meaninglessness of life, throughout its development, humanity has encountered these problems and fears. Naturally, these experiences have been reflected in architecture. The article examines how visual, spatial and tactile qualities of buildings and urban landscapes enhance or mitigate deep human anxieties. The article analyzes the prospects for the development of a scientific field that combines philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and architectural practice. The analysis is carried out using such sciences as: architectural theory, existential psychology, phenomenology of architecture, and partly neurobiology. Special emphasis is placed on a comparative analysis of the perception of different architectural styles. A comparative analysis of the influence of the sacred architecture of Ancient Egypt and the Gothic cathedrals of France on the activation of existential fears through the mechanisms of visual perception has been conducted. Among the key areas of development of the scientific direction stated in the article, the following can be noted: neuroarchitecture and biometric research; virtual and augmented reality; creation of digital twins of the architectural environment for testing existential reactions at the stages of foresight design; VR therapy of phobias through controlled immersion in anxious architectural spaces; existential design; semiotics of fear, decoding of visual codes of anxiety. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of recommendations for creating a psychologically comfortable architectural environment. Based on the data obtained, the principles of architecture aimed at reducing anxiety and creating a supportive space are developed. The results of the work can be applied in urban planning practice, the design of residential and public spaces, as well as the development of new architectural design standards that take into account the psycho-emotional needs of a person. The study of the visual perception of the architectural environment opens up new opportunities for understanding how space affects existential fears. The article examines how modern research at the intersection of architecture, neuroscience, and existential psychology is forming a new interdisciplinary field that studies the influence of visual characteristics of the environment on deep-rooted human fears. In the coming years, this area promises revolutionary discoveries and practical applications.