Revisiting Plaza Scale and Human Comfort: A Virtual Reality-Based Psychophysiological Analysis

Abstract Plaza scale significantly influences human comfort, yet traditional urban design guidelines often adopt fixed L/H (length/height) ratios without empirical valida- tion. This study investigates how different L/H ratios affect human comfort using Virtual Reality and psychophysiological measurements, including Electroen- cephalogram (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), and Photoplethysmography (PPG). A total of 26 plaza configurations with varying building heights (3-100m) were tested on 42 participants. Results indicate that the optimal L/H ratio is not fixed but decreases from 3:1 to 1.9:1 as building height increases. EEG and GSR data reveal significant correlations between spatial perception and physiologi- cal responses, challenging conventional urban design assumptions. Findings offer evidence-based insights for refining public plaza dimensions to enhance comfort and usability. This research bridges urban design and human-centered metrics, providing a data-driven framework for future public space planning.