3D visual simulation and numerical measurement of privacy in traditional Korean palace

Traditional Korean architecture provides privacy through a proper balance of openness and enclosure through courtyard gardens. However, it is difficult to analyse privacy quantitatively in a threedimensional space. The analysis of visual privacy is a significant issue in resolving conflicts and enhancing comfort. This paper develops a computational algorithm for simulating and measuring privacy on the concept of prospect and refuge: a design strategy for psychological wellbeing. In order to visualize privacy, the prospect area ratio (PAR) and refuge area ratio (RAR) are used in 3D visual simulations. PAR and RAR calculate the area ratio of the hiding space or the visible space in the images collected from the 3D model. In addition, parametric algorithms are proposed to calculate PAR/RAR automatically. Finally, this research demonstrates a case study of Gyeongbokgung, one of the five palace buildings in Korea, to show methods and processes of the quantitative analysis of visual privacy. The outcome of this paper contributes to quantitative confirmation of spatial characteristics that clearly distinguish between public space and private space of Gyeongbokgung. The proposed method also shows great potentials to quickly obtain the numeric value of privacy.