• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-177
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• 2013

The environmental considerations should be taken into full consideration in order to make the use of ground space as comfort and efficient as that of ground space. The visual environmental factors which provide visual informations in underground spaces where the environmental information can be acquired only by the surroundings expand their role as affordance for wayfinding. This study focuses on the visual performance evaluation of wayfinding factors on the subway transfer station platform and aisle as major space for movement in four subway transfe stations and analyzes the material, pattern, color, and lighting provided by the visual environment in underground space as directional marked label, regional differentiation and sign system. The results of this study comes are as follows. First, As to the directional marked label at the subway platform and transfer aisle, following patterns are colors, finishing materials and lighting for the sake of safety and convenience, And regional differentiation, following colors are patterns for the space division. Finally sign system which practically provides the most information, however, it is most insufficient to be a space-preception element. Second, According to the type of platform structures, such as an island platform and a separate platform, the main areas of and necessity for the space-perception elements may bring about changes. Third, these four stations that has been analyzed for this study, lighting, compared with color, finishing material and pattern, has been highly insufficient to be a perception element.

• Archives of design research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.255-270
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• 2003

The main goal of this study is to find the role of landmarks in route communication process and to explore the describability of landmarks, a linguistic factor of landmarks that was not noted frequently by previous wayfinding studies. Through analysis of landmarks in this study, the describability of landmarks was identified and this study hypothesized that the describability affects to the whole process of route communication. A virtual reality (VR) simulation test was conducted to examine the effect of the describability of landmarks in route communication. The independent variable was the describability of landmarks and landmarks. As dependent variables, the total time to find final destination and the number of errors were measured. Results showed that the describability of landmarks gives positive effect to the whole of route communication processes. Consequently, this study provides the solution of wayfinding problems in route communication and suggests the usage of landmarks as a prerequisite for planning spaces having the efficiency of wayfinding.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.83-94
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• 2018

In many theoretical and empirical studies on the design issues of therapeutic healthcare facilities, spatial configuration that promotes users' wayfinding behavior, has been emphasized as a significant factor to mitigate stressful experiences and to enhance restorative quality in the healthcare environment. This is also applicable to the healthcare setting for children. However, not much evidence has been reported with regard to the relationship between spatial configuration and wayfinding behaviors in this specific setting. Moreover, healthcare facilities for children with physical disabilities need more attention to provide easy wayfinding due to various physical restrictions. The aim of this study is therefore, to unfold the relationship between spatial configuration and visual cognitive qualities of outpatient spaces in the selected children's rehabilitation hospitals in Seoul, by examining visual cognitive attributes such as visibility, accessibility, and intelligibility. In the first phase, the spatial layout of the hospitals was analyzed, with an emphasis on the major outpatient areas such as the entrance lobby, doctors' examination, and physical therapy zones. In the second phase, a space syntax tool was implemented to examine visual cognitive characteristics of the spatial configuration. The spatial configuration parameters measured were integration, integration core, visual isovist field continuity, correlation between integration and step depth, and the correlation between integration n and integration 3. As a result, the integration was higher in the hall type configuration. Circulation intersections acted mostly as integration cores for better visibility. Some areas showed the lack of continuity in the visual isovist fields overlap and irregular correlation between integration and step depth. The intelligibility was higher in the circulation area and social interaction spaces such as a cafe, reception waiting, and therapy waiting areas. Based on the analysis, design implication and possible future improvement were discussed to enhance wayfinding experiences in the hospitals for children with physical disabilities.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

User movement is an important factor in determining the amount of the acquired knowledge and information about space contexts. A reasonable circulation plan affects the spatial usage, space revitalization, and activity satisfaction, and is ultimately a means to increase spatial usefulness. On the other hand, a disorderly circulation system causes negative experiences due to difficulties in wayfinding. This research identified the importance of a pedestrian circulation system analyzing the correlation between the spatial configuration index and pedestrian movement, and visitors' movement in the leisure space by using Space Syntax. The research area, Ouam-ri, where numerous guests visit this designated folk village, is a typical case in which a settlement space is used as a leisure space. There was a great deal of risk that visitors would get lost while wandering through the space. Also, it is difficult to induce visitors to tour economically even though the pedestrian circulation configuration of Ouam-ri forms the natural moving line because of its typical tree structure. Additionally adjusting and to supplementing the pedestrian system is required in order for the traditional village, a settlement space, to be used as a leisure space.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.647-654
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• 2010

In a service environment, the spatial layout is an important factor that has a great impact on customers' behavioral characteristics including wayfinding and purchasing. Previous studies have shown a gap between marketing, focusing solely on profitability and satisfaction, and architecture, looking only into efficiency of pedestrian flow. To balance such disparity, this study suggests an integrated approach for assessing behavioral patterns in complex service environments. With the objective that complex service environments should aim to increase its profitability and efficiency while guaranteeing customer satisfaction, quantitative metrics was developed for evaluation. The metrics was defined to use data from behavior observation including path tracking, population counting, and gaze analysis, while previous studies have relied on abstract survey methods that were prone to sampling errors and loss of data. For validation of the metrics in a real world setting, a case study was conducted at 4 train stations in Korea. In the case study, experiments were conducted to gather the required data in all 4 train stations, while their physical layouts were also analyzed. With the results from the case study, comparative evaluation of the 4 train stations in terms of behavioral efficiency was possible, together with a discussion on the effect of their physical settings.

• Architectural research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.123-133
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• 2020

Light is an essential environmental element for elderly people to do various activities. At senior welfare centers, healthy indoor lighting is especially necessary because the facilities are used by the elderly to perform their mostly indoor activities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate light environments at senior welfare centers for well-being lighting characteristics. We based the study on the 'Biophilia' theory, a concept related to health from happiness. Thus, this study is mainly based on literary review and survey research. For this, we conducted a location focused field study to identify the current state of the lighting environments at senior welfare centers in Busan, South Korea. First, we constructed structural questionnaire to evaluate lighting environment based on 'Light and Space' biophilia theory. Then, to survey subjective evaluation, the participant of research included total of 122 senior welfare center users. Based on the results of this research, the conclusions are as follows; 1) overall, it seems that the overall result of the light environmental evaluation seems to be high because the evaluated facilities in the case survey in large-scale were recently built elderly welfare centers. 2) most of the healing design elements are focused on the introduction of natural light and psychological influence. The satisfaction with actual natural light is evaluated to be high. Although shadow and reflected light are very important in discrimination and recognition of indoor space and wayfinding, the evaluation of reflected light and shadow was low for the study. 3) items that are related to the functionality of the light were highly evaluated, while the items that are related to the spatiality of the light were rated poorly. This study has its significance when examining the effects of light environments within the welfare center form of the perspective of senior citizens. It can be referenced when reconsidering the recognition of light environment as a major consideration factor to establish a desirable senior welfare center environment.