Browsing by Subject "Building"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Open Access
Satisfaction in a dormitory building: the effects of floor height on the perception of room size and crowding
(SAGE, 2001-01) Kaya, N.; Erkip, F.
This article examines the effects of floor height on the perception of room size and crowding as an important aspect of satisfaction with a dormitory building. The analysis was carried out by means of a survey research designed for dormitory residents at Bilkent University, Ankara. Two 5-story dormitory buildings, one housing men and the other women, in which all rooms are of identical size and have equal density, were chosen for the survey. The highest (fifth) and the lowest (ground) floor were included in this research with a sample of an equal number of male and female students for each. As predicted, residents on the highest floor perceive their rooms as larger and feel less crowded than residents of the lowest floor. Overall, when the room is perceived as larger and the feeling of privacy in a room increases, the satisfaction with a dormitory room also increases.
Open Access
Spatial factors affecting wayfinding and orientation: A case study in a shopping mall
(SAGE, 2000) Dogu, U.; Erkip, F.
Although wayfinding and orientation in complex buildings is an important criterion for environmental behavior, research on the subject remains limited and the issue is not considered sufficiently during the design process. This article examines the factors that affect wayfinding behavior of individuals in a shopping mall and explains how their behaviors are influenced by factors such as building configuration, visual accessibility, circulation systems, and signage. The case study conducted in a mall in Turkey draws a sample profile of Turkish society from a wayfinding point of view. The relation between wayfinding behavior and shopping activity is discussed. The results show that people did not find the signage system sufficient. Although they found the mall an easy setting from the wayfinding point of view, they still required better solutions to find specific destinations such as telephone booths, restrooms, or stores located in parts of the building that were not visually accessible.