Spatial Differentiation Effect on Wayfinding and Orientation in Gestalt Space

Abstract:

An investigation is made into a shopping mall newly built in Shanghai by tracking,recording,interviewing and questionnaires surveying.Results show that spatial differentiation is helpful to cognitive mapping and the recall of the relative position of two spatial features.As for environment without distinctive spatial differentiation,the outdoor landmarks can ameliorate cognition of the attached indoor landmark and wayfinding behavior.According to the priority level,the indoor wayfinding strategy can be ranked as orientation strategy,building configuration strategy and route strategy.The orientation strategy is the most convenient one for wayfinder.

Key words:spatial differentiation; orientation; gestalt space; wayfinding strategy