ACUUS 2012 Conference Presentation Sami Hasan

ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Legible and Meaningful Underground Space: Investigating Non-Signage Elements in Spatial Memory and Navigation inside Hong Kong Underground Stations

Mohammad Sami AL HASAN Department of Design, CIHE, Hong Kong

++ cities towards the ‘new’ space domain Underground (UG) Space

• Development of technological abilities, • Scarcity of land, • High congestion • Environmental Conservation • as well changed socioeconomic scenario in urban context (Sterling and Carmody 1993, Golany and Ojima 1996, Meijenfeldt et al. 2003)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

+++ Underground (UG) Stations as the promising Urban Space

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Grown on the demand of

> fast and efficient connectivity. > modern technological abilities -Connectivity -Real Estate Value -Concentration of people -Added activities =

multi-purpose public realm and beyond its original purpose of transportation node

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

+++ Underground (UG) Stations as the promising Urban Space

++ Image & Meaning of an Environment

Environment should have capability of evoking legible mental image or spatial memory of that environment in its users’ mind.

Vivid image of environment is essential in order to

operate in, relate to and gain in depth experience of that particular environment or space (Lynch 1960, 1985)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Vivid image is essential in order to

++ Image & Meaning of an Environment

operate in, relate to and gain in depth experience of that particular environment or space

in long run helps to create

sense of place, users’ orientation and

relation to space for a livable environment

(Lynch 1960, 1985) M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

> Image of UG Spaces Potential Deficiencies

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

UG Spaces

Potential Psychological and Physiological Changes - the negative reaction associated with darkness and humid stagnant air -

feeling of disorientation, entrapment

-

loss of global references like sun, sky, ground surface

-

absence of natural world and seasonal simulation

-

change in vertical levels, enclosed space, limited visual range, as well different information system (Sterling and Carmody 1993c, Golany and Ojima 1996, Samwel 2003)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Spatial Cognition in

UG Stations - Signage can be depicted as confusing, illegible and effortful in some cases (Bronzaft, Dobrow and O'Hanlon 1976, Passini and Arthur 1992) - For new users and visitors, signage elements are necessary aiding route navigation (Fontaine and Denis 1999, Fontaine 2001) - Difference in elements was found for the underground and above ground domain, which is signage in UG due to . (Fontaine & Denis, 1999) - People hardly can relate aboveground space with underground (Proulx 1987)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Environmental Information in UG Stations

Signage Elements For functional reason underground stations are associated with

cartographic, pictographic and typographic signage to aid easy navigation and visual information

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Environmental Information in UG Stations

Signage Elements

requires

-careful interpretation of text

and graphics each time

-may become effortful -cause of errors in situation of users disturbed mind, complex layout and in moment of rush.

-reading maps and graphical directions still found problematic for many

persons’ cognition abilities

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Signage in UG Stations: Is it

Overemphasized as environmental information?

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Signage in UG Stations: Is there any Non-signage Elements? contributing spatial cognition and so the image of place

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

> Spatial Cognition process

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Cognitive Process “A process composed of a series of psychological

transformations by which an individual acquires, codes, stores,

recalls, and decodes information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomenal n their everyday spatial environment.�

(Downs & Stea, 1973)

(Passini, 1984)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Visual memory process

Scan & Glance

Iconic Memory

Short Term Visual Memory selective

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Long Term Memory

> Spatial memory process

Purposive  Non Purposive Route Knowledge  Survey Knowledge Way finding  Mental Image

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Structure Anchor-Point (Golledge, 1978, 1984; Couclelis, Golledge, Gale, & Tobler, 1995)

Reference Frame (Werner & Schindler, 2004; Garling, Lindberg, Carreiras & Book, c1995; Siegel & White, 1975)

-primary nodes or reference points anchor and their linkage form skeletal hierarchical structure for representing and organizing cognitive information about space

-spatial reference frame link spaces to provide spatial relation and orientation about complex space.

Environmental Information Salient Features/ Elements

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

40 participants 24 men and 16 women mixed ages and along with other demographic variables

Interview with Sketch map + (Verbal Description + Regular Exit) Route Knowledge + Survey Knowledge M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

key enquiries

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Case Study Stations Hong Kong MTR Case Study

Mong Kok Causeway Bay

Similarity Surrounding Area Shopping District

Familiarity Destination for youth

Diversity Use Intensity High

Location Kowloon Hong Kong Island

Spatial Layout Comple x Simple

Type of Station Interchange Single

Case Study Stations

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Basic Zoning

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Station Interior

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Signage

M. Sami JURYAL IV HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Non-Signage Elements

Results 01: Salient Features in Sketch map

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Results 02: Salient Features in verbal description.

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Results 03: Feature locating Regular Exit.

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Summary

• Spatial Layout Geometry • Functional use relation • Non-functional visual cue

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Cognitive Reference

Relationship

Convenient Shop, Other type (Bakery, Comic book) of Shops ATM booth Customer Service Centre Octopus Turnstile Ticket Machine

Reference Elements have functional use relation with the users, regardless of form or other salient feature.

Long Corridor Exit At One End Exit At Centre At Farthest End

Geometry of a space and Relative location used as reference in cognitive image

(Werner & Schindler, 2004; Werner, Saade & L端er, 1998; Werner & Schmidt, 1999; Montello, 1991; Passini, 1984)

(Passini, 1984; Appleyard, 1979; Moore,1979; Rapaport, 1977) White Coloured Wall Stone Textured Wall Station Colour Advertisement Board

Non-functional and non-formal visual cues associated with colour, texture and material (Werner & Schindler, 2004)

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Typology Based on Attributes

FUNCTIONAL Use Relation

SPATIAL Layout Geometry Non-Functional VISUAL Cue

Three Layers First Layer: Considering the Spatial Layout Geometry • Simple geometry • - a clear salient common axis or reference frame for changing spaces.

• - Intensively used exits be given salient spatial feature, like elongation, segregation then other exits.

• Common spatial references

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Three Layers

First Layer: Considering the Spatial Layout Geometry Second Layer: Strategic Location of Functional Features Convenient shops as a basic anchor ATM booths and other shops Station functional equipment

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Three Layers First Layer: Considering the Spatial Layout Geometry Second Layer: Strategic Location of Functional Features

Third Layer: Use of Visual Features for first and second layer are limited scopes or complex, Consultation on lighting, graphical features can provide specific options,

Salient colour at special space Colour guide from platform to exit Sense of direction (North/ South or Street side) by material Prominence, Variation of colour should be limited and controlled use

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

Finishing

Stations are being designed realizing the need of a legible, meaningful environmental image.

Jubilee Line Extension project for London Tube Kowloon Station in Hong Kong

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore

This research is a beginning of enquiry in that direction to inform elements other than signage to improve legibility.

Thank You

M. Sami AL HASAN | ACUUS 2012 Singapore