Evaluating Exhibition Space through Mutual Visibility and Asymmetric Gaze
In museums and exhibition spaces, where many people occupy the same environment at once, spatial experience is shaped not only by the displayed works but also by the presence of other visitors. When people choose where to stand, they tend to prefer positions from which they can appreciate the exhibit calmly, without seeing too many others and without being overly exposed to others’ gaze. This research investigates exhibition space through the spatial relationships created by lines of sight and mutual visibility.
A key point is that visibility is asymmetric: how easily I can see another person is not necessarily the same as how easily that person can see me. We explicitly incorporate this asymmetry into a mathematical optimization framework and analyze where people should stand, how many visitors a space can comfortably accommodate, and how the preferred arrangement changes depending on whether one prioritizes overall visibility or avoids situations in which a few people are excessively exposed.
By applying the method not only to idealized exhibition spaces but also to real examples such as the Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa, we can reveal how many people a space can accept without mutual visual interference, how visual load increases as the number of visitors grows, and where people are likely to gather or avoid. This research reinterprets the relationship between spatial form, exhibition layout, comfort, and viewing experience through the lens of visual interaction.
