Emergence of eye-tracking in architectural research: a review of studies 1976–2021

Eye-tracking has become a central method in examining how people perceive architecture and the built environment around them. This review analyses the available peer-reviewed experiments and methodological developments in the use of eye-tracking in architecture from 1976 to 2021. It provides an overview of the architectural subject focus, number of participants, stimuli, capture methods, analysis approach, and other methodical and experimental design parameters used in each study. It synthesizes the overall development and findings of (1) the use of eye-tracking in architectural research in general, (2) the development of methodology, (3) investigations into the gaze pattern differences between architects and non-architects, (4) the correlation between gaze patterns and architectural elements, and (5) the correlation between gaze patterns and architectural preferences. These studies are examined to identify challenges for future research. The review provides architects and researchers with a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge to aid their research and design efforts.