The physical properties of the built environments and objects within it

The third flow is about knowledge embedded in physical objects and environments. Legible architectural features (e.g. entrances; exists, paths, stairs and circulation systems), visual, audible and tactile objects as landmarks, elevators, information desks and mechanical sounds can be classified under this category. Below are some examples taken from the old and complex environment of Salford Royal hospital and the new settings of Helsingør Psychiatric hospital and Bellevue Ambulatory Centre.

100 Figure 21 Entrance /Exit at Salford Royal Hospital.

Figure 22 is of a photograph showing a recognisable entrance/exit which requires no labelling with coded information to say what it is. The physical properties of the entrance are readable and serve as valuable information for even those who cannot read. The frontal approach gives it its legibility qualities as it allows the greatest visual access to an entrance. According to Arthur and Passini (1992) this approach is considered more effective in comparison with the oblique and indirect approaches to entrances. They observe that visual access diminishes as the approach becomes more oblique and finally disappears when the approach is indirect. Although exits are the same as entrances from an architectural point of view for the user it is not the same, note Arthur and Passini (1992) who further observe that people’s perception of exists is limited to actual doors which are most of the time seen at short range.

101 Figure 22 Path found at Salford Royal hospital

Figure 22 is of a photograph of a well lit path clearly communicating that it leads somewhere and that people are allowed on it. A number of things along this path serve as evidence to this assertion. On either side of the walls can be seen deliberate decorations intended to give the path a social element. Also notice the fold-up chairs immediately after the entrance seen to the right. The markings on floor differentiated by two shades of grey plus the lighting from the ceiling also adds to path‘s prominence.

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Figure 23 The receiving area of Helsignor Psychiatric hospital, Denmark

In Figure 23 the linear circulation system is apparent. All parts of the building are fused at one single point. The visitor to the setting arrives at a central point from which single ordered paths lead them to various hospital departments. Here there is no need for directional signs. The name of the destination to which the path leads appears to be sufficient

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Figure 24 Bellevue Ambulatory Centre Manhattan New York

In Figure 24 the concentric circulatory system can be seen. Visitors enter beneath a sheltering overhang and, passing through transparent glass entrances. The the visitor is in full view of all the floors in the building from a focal square which is used as the main reception to the centre. The conjunction of the sweeping, curved balconies of the new building and historic brickwork are enhanced by natural light. Public waiting areas are arrayed along curved gallerias on upper floors. Strategically placed reception units facilitate public interface with the different clinical modules. The division of the floor plate in three distinct zones — public, service and clinical/examination — optimizes programmatic flexibility and promotes efficiency.

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Figure 25 The stairs and objects used as landmarks at Salford Royal hospital

The photograph to the left is of the stairs which clearly do not need a sign to communicate what they are, what they should be used for or how they should be used. The last photograph contains a number of objects which are effectively incorporated into the practice of giving verbal directions as landmarks: the red post box and the cash machine. Several other objects within the hospital environment in general are used as landmarks in the same way (e.g. the body shop and the vending machine seen in wayfinding settings described in Chapter 5.

In this sub-section, examples showing how basic information about entrances, exists, paths and circulatory systems can provide the wayfinder with a variety of wayfinding cues with little need for signs have been considered. Thus it has been demonstrated that the physical properties of the built environment and objects within it play a vital role in communicating with the wayfinder. However, in old and more complex hospital settings the impact of the physical properties of built environment on wayfinding is generally overlooked. This is evident in the confusion caused by signs which are displayed without paying much attention to the architectural layout of the environment. Detailed analytical accounts describing wayfinding experience relating to the impact of the physical properties of the built environment on wayfinding behaviour are presented in the next Chapter. The accounts, as will become apparent, endorse Arthur and Passini’s (1992:139) points that architectural and coded information systems go hand in hand and that although coded information ‘...may well reinforce and describe the circulatory system in more detail’ rarely can it ‘...effectively replace

105 missing or misplaced architectural information’

4.6 SUMMARY

This is Chapter has presented the data collected for the study including a brief description of the various research settings considered for the study. Particular attention is paid to how the exercise aided a more in-depth identification and definition of the problems of wayfinding. The Chapter emphasises the prevalence of the three aspects of the tri-partite conception as it does the fact that an understanding of how wayfinders make sense of wayfinding information embedded in the physical properties of complex environments is possible through uniquely adequate observations.

The next Chapter presents an in-depth analysis of the behaviour of the wayfinders with a view to producing detailed uniquely adequate descriptions upon which wayfinding guidelines can be derived.

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5 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND DEFINITION: ANALYSIS

5.1 INTRODUCTION

This Chapter is presented in two parts. The first part offers detailed uniquely adequate analytical accounts of how wayfinders find their way with a view to establishing that from such accounts guidelines for improving wayfinding can be developed. This represents what Crabtree (2004) refers to as explicating the accountable structures of practical action made visible in the breach with a view to fleshing out abstract design concepts. The second part discusses the findings of this stage paying attention to the extent to which the central questions of the research have been answered.

5.2 UNIQUELY ADEQUATE ACCOUNTS OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF