Impact of Circulation Configuration on Wayfinding: An Experiential Approach to Architectural Legibility

Wayfinding is a very important aspect of user experience in architectural spaces, especially in those with complex architectural arrangements. Although signage and graphic design are often used to help with wayfinding, the use of architectural circulation as a primary method of wayfinding has not been adequately explored. This research evaluates the effects of circulation arrangement on wayfinding, with a focus on the effects of spatial arrangements, path hierarchy, and connectivity on cognitive mapping and ease of navigation. By combining architectural theory, environmental psychology, and case studies, this research reconsiders architectural circulation as a cognitive framework rather than a functional one. By considering architectural circulation as a spatial component, this research provides design-related findings that facilitate intuitive wayfinding through the architectural space.