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