Evaluation of a Conceptual Model of Architectural Legibility

Architectural legibility is the degree to which the designed features of the environment aid people in creating an effective mental image, or "cognitive map" of the spatial relationships within a building, and the subsequent ease of wayfinding within the environment. However, little research has attempted to operationalize legibility by examining the relationship between objective measures of the physical environment, the cognitive map, and observational measures of wayfinding performance. This article empirically assesses the effects of one environmental variable, topological floor plan complexity, on the cognitive mapping and wayfinding performance of 63 participants within three building settings. The study finds that this objective measure of floor plan complexity significantly influences cognitive mapping and observed wayfinding. Given these results, a conceptual model of one aspect of architectural legibility was developed and empirically tested. Path analysis was used to assess the relationship between topological plan configuration, four convergent measures of the cognitive map, and observational measures of human wayfinding performance. Analysis of these data provide support for the conceptual model. The model suggests that the complexity of topological plan configuration influences legibility. The evidence also indicates that the relationship between plan configuration and wayfinding is mediated by the accuracy of the cognitive map.