Improving Wayfinding Through Design In Proposed Paediatric Hospital Kaduna

Wayfinding in any publicly accessed building has been an issue and over the years thisproblem has been given a low priority as an unavoidable problem, Wayfindingproblems have been linked to stress-related problems and loss of productive staff time.The architecture of our existing hospitals do not adequately capture the needs of wayfinders, This research aims to take an in-depth study in to wayfinding and providesolution to this problem by proposing a hospital design that reflects an architecturalsolution to wayfinding (within Kaduna State). Three different methods of datacollection were used and that include the use of a visual survey & Check list, Participantobservation was used to get first-hand knowledge about the problem and use of a SpaceSyntax. Three healthcare institutions were selected and examined. Findings from thevisual survey on the case studies conducted shows architectural clues which include, theexterior clues and the interior clues; these clues/ element assist users to identifying theirwaypoint. Assessment of architectural features that aid wayfinding shows that AhmaduBello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) has high reflections of both internal andexternal clues, element such as landscape, location of entrance, placement of stairs andthe location of information Centre were greatly considered. While the second and thirdcase studies ranked low on the exterior clues some due to dilapidation of these facilitiesand poor maintenance. Participant observation was able to give the researcher an indepthviewer of wayfinding problem, and understand the approach that needs to betaken in providing solution at every decision point and destination zone. The field studyshows that larger facilities in a pavilion layout prove to be more challenging to navigate,multiple turns and curve destabilizes the orientation of the wayfinder, but opening to theoutside and placement of unique land marks and art works helps the wayfinder regainhis orientation. Data obtained in the space syntax analysis shows Barau Dikko SpecialistHospital (BDSH) has the highest level of intelligibility (R2) of 0.73 Followed byABUTH with a value of 0.33 and Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital (YDGH) with theleast level of intelligibility 0.064. The study deduce that zoning of related functions,space organization, position of spaces according to departments and providing clueswithin the interior and exterior of the facility is important in guiding any user of thefacility. This research highlights the necessity of incorporating unique features toinform users of this environment and also suggest methods used to improve wayfindingin healthcare facilities.

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