تحلیلی بر نقش آنتروپی در ادراک فضای معماری مبتنی بر نظریه اطلاعات شانون و اصول گشتالت

محمدرضا اکبریان; ساره  نیک ابادی

Authors

MohammadReza Akbarian Assistant Professor, Department of Interior Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Soureh International University, Tehran, Iran. Author
Sareh Nikabadi *: Assistant Professor, Department of Interior Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Soureh International University, Tehran, Iran. Corresponding author

Keywords:

Spatial Entropy, Shannon Information Theory, Gestalt Principles, Architectural Perception, Spatial Complexity

Abstract

The emergence of digital and non-linear forms in contemporary architecture has intensified the need to understand how spatial complexity and perceptual coherence interact to shape users’ experiences. Shannon’s Information Theory and the concept of entropy, together with Gestalt principles, provide a framework for examining complexity, uncertainty, and spatial organization in architectural environments. This study aims to redefine architectural perception through the integration of Shannon’s Information Theory and Gestalt psychology and to explore the relationship between spatial entropy and human perception.

This research employs a descriptive–analytical method with a comparative approach. Four architectural case studies were selected: two low-entropy examples (the Kimbell Art Museum and the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin) and two high-entropy examples (the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Nanjing Youth Cultural Center). Data were analyzed using a five-dimensional entropy framework comprising geometric, temporal, sensory, functional, and conceptual dimensions, alongside Gestalt principles.

The findings reveal that the relationship between spatial entropy and perception is dynamic and balanced. In low-entropy environments, principles such as symmetry and repetition enhance spatial order and legibility, producing calm and predictable experiences. Conversely, in high-entropy environments, principles such as continuity and superimposition help organize visual complexity, resulting in rich and stimulating spatial experiences. The results indicate that high levels of entropy, when accompanied by perceptual organizing principles, can enrich spatial experience without causing visual chaos. Therefore, achieving a balance between complexity and legibility is essential for creating meaningful and engaging perceptual experiences in contemporary architecture, where Gestalt-based order regulates entropy and prevents perceptual disorder.