An experimental research on the impact of spatial configurations of complex hospitals on human wayfinding performances

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the impact of spatial configurations of a complex hospital plan on individuals' wayfinding performances on the basis of a human cognition theory. 20 participants were sent to two different locations in the hospital (Breast Clinic and X-Ray Clinic). After qualitative data derived from VGA study was analyzed, VGA results were transferred into binominal continuous values for each variable and statistically analyzed by SPSS 24 to come up with quantitative results regarding the wayfinding performances of the participants. As a result, cross-sectional node points were found to be the decision-making points of participants where they mostly stopped to think and lost time and effort. The results also revealed that reference points have strong positive influence on wayfinding performances. This study concludes that wayfinding performances of navigators are supported when there is small gap between the users' existing schemata and new building design. Designing circulation areas in a curvilinear shape allow direct day light to get into the building and that creates wide spectrum of vision rather than vertically designed cross-sectional areas, which create narrower vision of the circulation areas and node points.

Keywords

• Cognitive Mapping
• Complex Hospital Designs
• Space Syntax
• Spatial Configurations Wayfinding