Affective Engineering for Streetscape Analysis: Evaluation of Traditional Japanese Mud Walls Using a Self-Organizing Map

Affective/Kansei engineering is used to analyze subjective responses to a streetscape plan for a historic townscape. The Chofu area in Shimonoseki was chosen for the research. The appearance of the streetscape is evaluated based on actual photographs using a traditional semantic differential method. Guidelines are often formulated to promote landscaping plans in historic towns, it is especially important to formulate color guidelines so as to unify the colors in an area undergoing change. The affective engineering proposed in this study reveals representative design elements arising from the regional characteristics of the area and its people. The pilot investigation using a self-organizing map validated the evaluation of mud wall colors.