Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

• Sanaz Haghshenas ¹
• Mahnaz Mahmoudi Zarandi ²
• Nasim Khanloo ¹

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Tehran East Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate professor, Department of Architecture, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Extended Abstract
Background and Objectives: Background and aim: Despite the existence of many advantages in Iran’s rail transportation, only a certain range of users has benefited from this massively useful system due to its performance-based approach and reliance on visual cues. As a result, users have experienced difficulties with navigation- orientation, among other issues. These difficulties stem from a lack of attention to other sensory experiences and the need to enhance the sensory richness of users through thoughtful design of architectural and informational components within rail stations. Thus, explaining the suitable solutions to improve navigation - orientation has a significant impact in decreasing user confusion and establish a sense of place within these spaces. The general perception of navigation and orientation strategies in public spaces involves a variety of signage, boards, and information systems that have been employed at the city level, sometimes effectively and sometimes ineffectively. However, in this research, the purpose of navigation- orientation is to make the environment detectable and give it a strong structure by “informational” and “architectural” elements and components, which are the most important components for influencing routing and orientation in station spaces. The purpose of this study is to present solutions to facilitate and improve the performance of users’ routing and orientation in Tehran railway stations. It seems that the process of routing and orientation of subway users is facilitated by informational and architectural components based on sensory enrichment.
Methods: This study utilized a descriptive-analytical method to examine the navigation-orientation process in a selected case sample. After evaluating the sample and identifying areas for improvement, strategies were proposed to enhance routing and orientation within station spaces by emphasizing the sensory experiences of users. Valiasr Square subway station was examined based on some reasons, such as the complexity of the station, intersection and multi-functionality, the combination of underground and surface space and the diversity of the station’s users. The statistical population of the study was the users of Valiasr station, who are selected using a purposeful random method. Data for this study was collected through both bibliographic and field methods. The bibliographic method involved presenting the theoretical framework and identifying research components. The field method, on the other hand, utilized space syntax analysis and a researcher-designed questionnaire in two stages to gather the necessary information. The data collection instrument for this study was a closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 40 Likert-scale questions. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first part focused on personal characteristics of the respondents, while the second part comprised questions related to the research variables presented in an illustrated format. Finally, the validity of the questions was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis and its validity was verified using Cronbach’s alpha method. In the first stage, the sample station was analyzed using the space syntax method in the DepthmapX software. This is because of enriching the questionnaires by the users in the next stage of the research. In the second stage, the sample station was measured by completing the research process, developing an illustrated questionnaire, and creating special sensory conditions by the users. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (path analysis) with SPSS- software. 
Findings: The collected data was analyzed by path analysis. The increase of path coefficients from 0.435 to 0.536 and 0.571 by the impact of sensory richness on the informational and architectural components of the sample station verified the solidarity of the research hypothesis and the results indicated that the coefficient of sensory richness on the informational components is 0.462 and 0.531on architectural components. Also, information components with a coefficient of 0.218 and architectural components with a coefficient of 0.256 are effective in facilitating the navigation process for users. Indeed, these components mitigate the complexity of the space. The results of the analysis by space syntax, in the DepthmapX software (the sample station (Vali Asr Square)), indicate the improvement of the navigation-orientation performance of users in the station, in case of widening from the street level to the rail. The use of VGA analysis shows which spaces are more visible and which are less. Spaces that are more enclosed and lack vertical expansion restrict users’ depth and angle of view, leading to decreased legibility of the space and difficulties with routing and orientation. Conversely, expanding the central spaces of the station increases users’ depth and angle of view, directly enhancing the ease of routing and orientation within the space.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that sensory-based design of informational and architectural components is an effective approach to improving the navigation and orientation process. The study’s findings suggest that creating sensory-rich station spaces that fully engage users’ sensory perceptions, incorporating meaningful elements, and improving navigation and orientation can reduce confusion, enhance users’ sense of confidence, and provide psychological security. Furthermore, it can increase productivity and create opportunities for individual and collective memories, a sense of belonging, and complementing functions such as festivals, memorials, exhibitions, and urban gatherings. By improving the quality of station spaces from a mere functional space to a safe, diverse, memorable, and dynamic place, rail transport systems can become more efficient and accommodate more users while providing suitable sensory places for citizens. Most of these improvements can be achieved with minimal changes and low costs to existing station spaces.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

- Providing solutions in order to facilitate and improve the performance of routing - orienting users in the railway stations.
- Proposing a conceptual model in the form of a set of components related to research in a round-trip fashion and in two-way interaction.
- The effect of informational and architectural components affected by sensory richness (as the most important components of the architecture of the senses) on the process of routing and orientation of users in rail transport stations in Tehran.

Keywords

• Station Spaces
• Informational Components
• Architectural Components
• Sensual Architecture
• Space Syntax

این مقاله برگرفته از رساله دکتری نویسنده نخست با عنوان «تبیین مدل مفهومی طراحی ایستگاه‌های حمل و نقل ریلی مبتنی بر معماری حواس» می‌باشد که به راهنمایی نویسنده دوم و مشاوره نویسنده سوم در دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران شمال انجام گرفته است.

This article is derived from the first author`s doctoral thesis entitled “Explaining the conceptual model of designing railway transport stations based on the architecture of the sense”, supervised by the second author and advised by the third, at Islamic Azad University Tehran North branch.