The concept of multisensory landscape assessment in terms of aesthetic attractiveness

Motives: A landscape is perceived through multiple senses. The notion that sight is the primary sense for aesthetic perception is indisputable. However, depending on the research objectives or practical applications of the results, this assumption should be reconsidered to account for the importance of multisensory reception. Aim: The aim of this study is to conduct a factor analysis of the broader context of aesthetic landscape perception, considering all senses. From the perspective of spatial planning, diverse human needs, and the abundance of stimuli affecting individuals, multisensory perception becomes essential. Sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste serve as receptors for the information conveyed by the landscape. Results: The findings confirm the multisensory nature of landscape aesthetic perception. Decisions made in spatial planning and land management depend on multiple stimuli received by individuals. Research confirms that hearing and smell may play a greater role in decision-making processes than sight under certain conditions. This is particularly relevant to the location of residential and recreational functions near environmentally disruptive sites.