Navigating Complex Buildings: Cognition, Neuroscience and Architectural Design

Abstract

This paper is in two sections, the first section presents a review of recent research in the areas of neuroscience, cognitive science and architecture with particular respect to what is currently understood about how buildingusers find their way around complex buildings. It goes on to define four areas of promising, potential future research located on the boundaries between these three disciplines, these being: spatial knowledge acquisition, orientation, multilevel environments and environment intelligibility. In the second half of the paper, it suggests how such current research and/or any future program of research could be used to aid architects in the design of new buildings. One such method suggested is the creation of designguidelines or heuristics based upon research into navigation and wayfinding. The paper concludes with an example list of eight sample guidelines.

Sculptors, Architects, and Painters Conceive of Depicted Spaces Differently

“…Since expert terminology refers to expert concepts, the specific professional language might more fundamentally foster distinct conceptualizations of space. For example, architects frequently reason with two‐ and three‐dimensional representations of space (Al‐Sayed, Dalton, & Hölscher, ; Dalton, Höelscher, & Spiers, ; Hölscher & Dalton, ), which can be used, for example, to help “design the limits that give the impression of space” (Souto de Moura, 2014) . In addition, architects are required to perform a substantial amount of spatial transformation and perspective taking (Brösamle & Hölscher, ).…”

Design, cognition & behaviour: usability in the built environment

“…Sailer, Budgen, Lonsdale, Turner, & Penn, 2008) and urban scales (Karimi, 2012). However, in order to establish a theoretical and empirical framework for the applications of cognitive psychology in architectural and urban design, there is a need to bridge the link with neurosciences (Dalton, Hölscher, & Spiers, 2015) and complexity sciences (Portugali, 2011).…”

Influences on pedestrian bi-directional route within exhibition spaces

“…In their research, Dalton et al (2011) found that pedestrians prefer straighter routes and do not like many changes in their direction. In addition, shallow changes in angled turning are preferred to sharp turns.…”

“…"The strategic placement of a few well-designed signs within a legible environment will have greater positive effects than signs posted at every turn and intersection" (Kopec, 2006). Good architectural design should minimize the necessity for signage through the use of coherent floor plans, visible access points, and interconnecting pathways and should only be used when other forms of environmental cues are unavailable (Dalton, 2011;Kopec, 2006).…”