Researching visitor emotions in architecture: a practical method

Abstract

This essay examines the emotions surrounding architecture, from the interior and exterior of the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City; in particular, identifying the causes that generate the said emotions. Twenty-four interviews were conducted with people who had already visited the museum. The results show that the exterior of the museum evokes positive emotions, such as admiration and satisfaction, associated with its form. The interior, on the other hand, generates a mixture of negative emotions, such as boredom, and positive ones, such as relaxation, attributable to its minimalist design and lack of connection with the outside world.