Journal Article10.1108/f-07-2021-0067
Investigating the role of spatial configuration on visitors’ spatial cognition in health-care spaces: case studies in Gilan, Iran
Elham Mehrinejad Khotbehsara,Hossein Safari,Reza Askarizad,Kathirgamalingam Somasundaraswaran +3 more
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TL;DR: In this paper , the impact of spatial configuration on behavioral patterns of visitors in the ground floor of health-care spaces was explored, which revealed that the spatial arrangements of pathways, public areas, vertical circulations, entrance space, lobby, emergency department, reception desk and pharmacy have a significant influence on the way that visitors perceive the health care environment.
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Abstract:
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of spatial configuration on behavioral patterns of visitors in the ground floor of health-care spaces.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the Space Syntax analysis was used to combine visibility graph analysis and axial line analysis with empirical observation of visitors’ activities. Two types of observation methods on visitors were conducted to discover the behavioral patterns of individuals, respectively, named “gate counts” and “people following.”
Findings
The outcomes of this research revealed that the spatial arrangements of pathways, public areas, vertical circulations, entrance space, lobby, emergency department, reception desk and pharmacy have a significant influence on the way that visitors perceive the health-care environment.
Research limitations/implications
The current research is limited to two aspects of effective wayfinding (configuration of health care and geometry). Future work can investigate the other potential factors coupled with the current factor as an integrated research for enhancing wayfinding and sustaining accessibility. Another limitation is that the observation results for this study had been conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic and future studies can compare these results with the current COVID-19 situation within health care environments.
Originality/value
A large amount of research has focused on the needs of populations in developed countries. This topic has not been investigated thoroughly by professionals in developing countries such as Iran. Accordingly, this study benefits environmental psychologists and architects by revealing the effective characteristics of legible spaces in health-care environments.
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Citations
The Legibility Efficacy of Historical Neighborhoods in Creating a Cognitive Map for Citizens
TL;DR: In this paper , the role of the spatial legibility of historical neighborhoods in creating a suitable cognitive map for citizens was investigated, and solutions such as enhancing the interaction between highly integrated streets and identified landmarks were emphasized to ameliorate the legibility in these spaces.
The impact of COVID-19 on visitors' wayfinding within healthcare centers
Elham Mehrinejad Khotbehsara,Reza Askarizad,Maryam Mehrinejad,Sara Noormousavi Nasab,Kathirgamalingam Somasundaraswaran +4 more
TL;DR: In this paper , the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the visitors' wayfinding procedure within Qa'em hospital, located in Rasht, northern Iran is investigated.
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The Application of Space Syntax to Enhance Sociability in Public Urban Spaces: A Systematic Review
Reza Askarizad,Patxi José Lamíquiz Daudén,Chiara Garau +2 more
TL;DR: The application of space syntax to enhance sociability in public urban spaces needs further research to bridge existing gaps in evidence, knowledge, practical, methodological, empirical, theoretical, and target populations.
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Perception of Spatial Legibility and Its Association with Human Mobility Patterns: An Empirical Assessment of the Historical Districts in Rasht, Iran
Reza Askarizad,Jinliao He +1 more
TL;DR: In this article , a mix method was developed in order to comprehend the association between spatial legibility and human mobility patterns using Space Syntax, cognitive sketch maps, and time-lapse photography.
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Investigating the role of path architecture complexity in users’ movement patterns in hospital circulation systems: case studies in Golestan, Iran
Maryam Saeidi,Mahsa Delshad Siyahkali,Hossein Moradinasab,Gholamhossein Naseri +3 more
TL;DR: This study investigates the impact of hospital ward layouts on users' movement patterns, using space syntax theory, and finds that linear-patterned plans improve wayfinding and accessibility, reducing user movement and wayfinding problems.
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