Abstract
This study analyzed metaphorical characteristics of composite materials in terms of a visual aspect on a new material that is applicable for housing space. The results are as follows. First, the recent trend of housing space tends to stimulate emotions of residents through visual finishing materials, and for this reason, visual expression of a new material that is applicable to finishing materials plays an important role. Second, convertibleness, association and duplicity were selected as items of metaphorical expressions through the precedent studies. Third, most of combinations of materials were shown different from the existing materials in an expressive characteristic of composite materials through analysis, and application of a technology showed a different visual effect of patterns and textures from the existing materials. This implies that visual expression and directing are being attempted using such technology on finishing materials of housing space with development of digital technologies. Fourth, for metaphorical characteristics of composite material for housing space, combination of various materials and a digital technology were applied on convertibleness. For association, a combination of materials that have each different characteristic associated with the third material, and combination with subsidiary material of optical fiber and a digital technology were appled for duplicity. Data obtained from the results of this study has high efficiency in planning finishing materials for emotional housing space in future, and it will be basic data for a study on development of new finishing materials.