Window Views: Difference of Perception during the COVID-19 Lockdown

ABSTRACT The provision of daylight, fresh air, and of a view outdoors are among the known characteristics of windows. But how does the perception of a window differ when it becomes the primary way of connecting to the physical world outside? In the first half of 2020, many countries resorted to strict lockdown measures to control the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The impact of such confinement, and the restriction to movement and social contact between people, is currently undergoing intense research. As such, this study reports the findings of a global online survey, administered before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, aimed at identifying whether any significant difference related to the lockdown could be observed in the perception of windows. The results confirm a practically relevant increase in the importance given to windows as a way to provide an external view and a visual and social connection with other people. Conversely, the role of the window as a conveyor of information on weather and time of the day was less prevalent. This is one of the first studies evaluating the difference in the perception of windows within a period of enforced lockdown. The findings can help capture the psychological impacts of confinement on people and may be relevant when transferred to other domains where building occupants could strongly benefit from the restorative effects of window views.