In recent decades, there has been considerable attention to the landscape and its relationship with the users’ perception in the educational and academic environments. Given the impact of the environmental design on the education quality, the current study investigates the visual qualities of the educational spaces based on the users’ recommendations in the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, as the educational center in the eastern part of the country. Therefore, theoretical and practical methods were used to achieve the research purpose. In the theoretical aspect, using the qualitative-quantitative method and case study, the current research analyzed the findings. In this regard, the books and papers were also used. Then, the indicators and criteria of the visual quality based on the theorists’ opinions were extracted in the theoretical part. In the practical part, the questionnaire and field study was applied. Out of 1775, 200 users were selected randomly among the students, professors, and the university staff in three zones of the university site. The Q-sort method was used to analyze the questionnaire and investigate the preferences of the user’s quantitative (scores) and qualitatively (the reasons for scores). Then, the degree of conformity or non-conformity of the components affecting the visual qualities of space users with the views of theorists was measured. The research results show that the initial principal criteria in determining the visual qualities of the educational spaces based on the preference and opinion of the users in the studied site are as follows: proper vegetation and greenness of the space, using the proper color, proper space furniture, and their optimal location, using the natural elements and the use of the prominent and suitable element. Also, the factors such as the lack of using suitable and green vegetation, the lack of appropriate furniture and inappropriate location, unclean space, lack of discipline and calm in the space layout are the main components of the lack of desirability (lack of visual quality) based on the users of the university.

Keywords