The effects of mystery on preference for residential façades

In the literature on landscape appraisal, mystery is defined as the promise of new information if one could travel deeper into the environment [(1989). Journal of Environmental Psychology, 9, 24-43]. Mystery is also a powerful predictor of perceived preference for the landscape. The present study examined how the effects of mystery enhance preference for housing façades as versus landscapes. In Study 1, participants were presented with 12 photomontages of a housing façade situated between two trees and rated their preference under one of 3 stimulus conditions. In the high-mystery condition, the trees completely concealed the two edges of the house. In the low-mystery condition, although the two edges of the house were concealed, the middle parts of the edges were slightly visible from between the leaves. In the middle-mystery condition, only the middle part of one of the edges was visible. It was hypothesized that the completely hidden edges, in the high- and middle-mystery conditions, would convey the impression that part of the house was hidden behind the tree. Results showed that houses in the high-mystery condition were significantly rated as highest in preference. Moreover, results of a follow-up survey suggested a definite possibility that the novelty of housing façades helped mystery to enhance preference for housing appearance the most.