AN ANALYTICAL EVALUATION OF INTERIOR FURNITURE ELEMENTS IN SHOPPING MALLS IN RELATION TO THE SPATIAL PERCEPTION AND USER EXPERIENCE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN: THE CASE OF PANORA AND KENTPARK SHOPPING MALLS

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between interior urban furniture elements and the shopping mall preferences of families with children. As interior public spaces, shopping malls incorporate lighting, seating units, and floor coverings as key design components influencing spatial perception, wayfinding, safety, and user comfort. Panora Shopping Mall and Kentpark Shopping Mall, both located in Ankara, were selected as case studies due to their distinct spatial typologies and circulation systems. The research adopts an exploratory mixed-method approach, combining a literature review with structured face-to-face interviews conducted with 20 families who actively use these malls. The data was analyzed through descriptive evaluation to identify patterns related to user interaction and spatial perception. Findings reveal that balanced lighting enhances spatial legibility and perceived safety, while the ergonomic design and placement of seating units directly affect duration of stay and user satisfaction. Floor coverings were found to support child safety; however, their contribution to spatial orientation remained limited. Overall, interior urban furniture elements play not only functional but also perceptual and experiential roles, significantly influencing spatial preferences and user experience, particularly for families with children.

Keywords

• Shopping malls
• Urban furniture
• Spatial perception
• User preferences
• Public spaces

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethics committee approval. This study is an observational questionnaire study completed anonymously by parents or caregivers and does not include any personal or identifiable data. No direct data were collected from children, and no intervention was performed. As the study posed no risk to participants, ethics committee approval was not required.

ALIŞVERİŞ MERKEZLERİNDE İÇ MEKÂN DONATI ELEMANLARININ ÇOCUKLU AİLELERİN MEKÂNSAL ALGI VE KULLANICI DENEYİMİ İLE İLİŞKİSİ BAĞLAMINDA ANALİTİK DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ: PANORA VE KENTPARK ALIŞVERİŞ MERKEZLERİ ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Bu çalışma, iç mekân kent donatı elemanları ile çocuklu ailelerin alışveriş merkezi tercihleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Kamusal iç mekânlar olarak alışveriş merkezlerinde kullanılan aydınlatma, oturma birimleri ve yer döşemeleri; mekânsal algı, yön bulma, güvenlik ve kullanıcı konforunu etkileyen temel tasarım bileşenleri olarak ele alınmıştır. Panora Alışveriş Merkezi ve Kentpark Alışveriş Merkezi, farklı mekânsal tipolojileri ve dolaşım sistemleri nedeniyle örnek alanlar olarak seçilmiştir. Araştırma, literatür taraması ile bu alışveriş merkezlerini aktif olarak kullanan 20 çocuklu aileyle gerçekleştirilen yapılandırılmış yüz yüze görüşmeleri birleştiren keşifsel bir karma yöntem yaklaşımına dayanmaktadır. Veriler, kullanıcı etkileşimi ve mekânsal algıya ilişkin örüntüleri belirlemek amacıyla betimleyici olarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, dengeli aydınlatmanın mekânsal okunabilirliği ve güvenlik algısını artırdığını; oturma birimlerinin ergonomik özellikleri ile konumlandırılmasının mekânda geçirilen süre ve kullanıcı memnuniyeti üzerinde doğrudan etkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Yer döşemeleri çocuk güvenliğini desteklemekle birlikte yön bulmaya katkılarının sınırlı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, iç mekân kent donatı elemanlarının yalnızca işlevsel değil, aynı zamanda algısal ve deneyimsel roller üstlendiği; özellikle çocuklu ailelerin mekânsal tercihleri ve kullanıcı deneyimi üzerinde belirleyici olduğu ortaya konmuştur.

Keywords

• Kamusal mekanlar
• Alışveriş merkezleri
• Kent donatıları
• Mekansal algı
• Kullanıcı tercihleri

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma etik kurul onayı gerektirmemektedir. Bu çalışma, ebeveynler/bakım verenler tarafından anonim olarak doldurulan, kişisel veya tanımlayıcı veri içermeyen gözlemsel bir anket çalışmasıdır. Çalışma kapsamında herhangi bir müdahale yapılmamış ve çocuklardan doğrudan veri toplanmamıştır. Katılımcılar açısından risk oluşturmaması nedeniyle etik kurul onayı alınmamıştır.

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