Abstract
Hospital lobbies are gradually transforming from traditional zones of circulation and waiting into multifunctional public spaces that integrate rest, cultural display, retail services, and social interaction. This study analyzes four tertiary hospitals in Korea using space syntax methods, specifically convex space analysis and visibility graph analysis, to quantitatively examine the integration and visual integration characteristics of various functional zones within the lobby. The analysis provides a systematic assessment of spatial accessibility and visual guidance within the lobby environment. From the perspective of enhancing user experience in healthcare settings, the study identifies four key design strategies aimed at optimizing circulation and functional layout, thereby improving users’ spatial orientation and overall comfort. These findings suggest that future hospital lobby design should prioritise clear circulation, visible core services, and context-sensitive integration of composite functions.
Keywords
Hospital Lobby, Space-Syntax, Accessibility
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1965
Citation
Li, A., Choi, Y., and Lim, H. (2026) Accessibility Analysis of Hospital Lobbies in Korean Tertiary Hospitals Based on Space Syntax to Inform Design Strategies, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1965
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Accessibility Analysis of Hospital Lobbies in Korean Tertiary Hospitals Based on Space Syntax to Inform Design Strategies
Hospital lobbies are gradually transforming from traditional zones of circulation and waiting into multifunctional public spaces that integrate rest, cultural display, retail services, and social interaction. This study analyzes four tertiary hospitals in Korea using space syntax methods, specifically convex space analysis and visibility graph analysis, to quantitatively examine the integration and visual integration characteristics of various functional zones within the lobby. The analysis provides a systematic assessment of spatial accessibility and visual guidance within the lobby environment. From the perspective of enhancing user experience in healthcare settings, the study identifies four key design strategies aimed at optimizing circulation and functional layout, thereby improving users’ spatial orientation and overall comfort. These findings suggest that future hospital lobby design should prioritise clear circulation, visible core services, and context-sensitive integration of composite functions.