• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2007

Recently, hospital patients experience anxiety, confusion, and stress about wayfinding as the spacial layout and treatment circulatory system of hospitals have become complicated due to their oversized and complex structure. As part of finding a solution to the problem, this study seeks to examine what are the essential elements of the wayfinding planning of O.P.D. in general hospitals, to develop the model of wayfinding, and to suggest the methods of improving the wayfinding system. The research methods of this study adopted were literature review in wayfinding cognition, plan analysis of ten general hospitals, space analysis of these hospitals through space syntax, analysis of the system of visual-perceptual information through a field study, and analysis of surveys and follow-up surveys conducted to support the results. Based on these results, the proposals for finding decision points, providing the information, and developing a model planning are listed as follows. 1) The comprehensive understanding of O.P.D. spacial layout and the visual-perceptual information system is necessary to find the essential elements of wayfinding. 2) The decision points are found through the full understanding of spacial functions, circulation systems, and facility configuration, considering the spacial layout, the bound of the visual-perceptual information system, and the circulatory system. Furthermore, the information decision points could be confined by space syntax. 3) The checklist and color compound & color codes, developed through the planning of signage system and color system could be applied to the methods of providing the information. 4) The planning of wayfinding system according to the whole process of practices for outpatients was mentioned above. The system of visual-perceptual information developed through the process of this study should be integrated in the spacial layout of the whole O.P.D.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
• /
• v.15 no.5 s.58
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2006

This study analyzes the characteristics of special configuration for wayfinding in general hospitals. To that end, the study categorizes four different hospitals, according to the type of their wayfinding systems. It aims at utilizing the result of the analysis for wayfinding system in general hospitals by applying three elements of analysis methods', perpetual access, depth, and intelligibility. The study result shows as follows: First, there is no difference in special hierarchy when hospitals are analyzed and divided by halls and streets. It means that outpatient departments are located by spatial function and characteristics rather than form of spatial configuration. Second, we found that fewer direction changes are conducive to easier circulation in terms of wayfinding, when we analyzed spatial depth from the main entrances to the outpatient departments. Third, regarding intelligibility, intelligibility of Chungang University Hospital ranked highest. Kunkook University Hospital, Dongkook University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. It means that difficulty level of wayfinding is not decided by the characteristics of special configuration such as hospital hall and hospital streets but depends on location planning. The difficulty level of wayfinding mainly relies on location planning.