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Spatial Navigation in Real and Virtual Multi-Level Museums

Lazaridou, A; Psarra, S; (2017) Spatial Navigation in Real and Virtual Multi-Level Museums. In: Proceedings of the 11th Space Syntax Symposium. (pp. 14.1-14.18). Instituto Superior Tecnico: Lisbon, Portugal. Green open access

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Abstract

Atria in public buildings, such as museums and cultural environments, serve the purposes of architectural expression as well as spatial navigation. This is clearly seen in numerous existing buildings and modern extensions, such as in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the most recent masterplan of which uses atria to link the old with the new sectors of the building, attract human activity and facilitate three-dimensional exploration. Until recently, most space syntax studies on navigation focused on route choices and spatial characteristics in two dimensions, consequently by-passing the effect of the third dimension on spatial exploration. Although common sense acknowledges a link between three-dimensional design and human movement, there is no substantial research on how the third dimension relates to patterns of exploration. Using the Ashmolean Museum as the main focus study, this paper explores the relationship of actual human movement (visitors’ paths), virtual movement (VR) and spatial structure (space syntax), in order to understand how the multi-storey complex environment impacts on users’ free exploration. The findings suggest that verticality three-dimensional visibility, have a significant effect on how people move in a museum setting. Virtual experiments including spatial alterations of the volumetric structure of the Ashmolean clearly show the impact of the third dimension on path selection and configuration as well as gaze direction. This paper can inform three-dimensional architectural design with the goal of creating user-friendly buildings. The ultimate aim is to provide principled understanding of the variability of three dimensional design and cognitive dimensions in museum buildings for the public.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: Spatial Navigation in Real and Virtual Multi-Level Museums
Event: 11th International Space Syntax Symposium
Location: Calouste Goulbekian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
Dates: 03 July 2017 - 07 July 2017
ISBN-13: 978-972-98994-4-7
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Publisher version: http://www.11ssslisbon.pt/proceedings/
Language: English
Keywords: Museums, spatial navigation, virtual reality, space syntax, atria
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > The Bartlett School of Architecture
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10038355
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