Abstract
Recently the function of a department store has changed to the concept of a multi-functional center because of the alternative stores such as discount stores, home shopping, and internet shopping. This means that the front plaza of a department store is not a personal or private space any more, but a public space. This study focuses on the special character of public space through the classification and preference types of department store front plazas. The major results of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) Components of front plaza of department store are classified by three factors. The first factor, named "space limit", has 14 elements ; the second, named "space decoration" has 16 elements ; third, named "activity", has 2 elements. The first preferred element is easily- used and easily- serviced wide space. The second preferred element is the equipment that is placed linearly along the street. The third preferred element is cultural events. (2) The comparison between the frequency and preference shows that the plazas could not satisfy the user-needs. (3) Preference factors of front plazas were examined to three characters such as familiarity, peculiarity, and openness. Familiarity, peculiarity, openness have a positive correlation in all types. Peculiarity especially influences the other two space - preference factors.