Abstract:

Analysis of physical comfort criterias in line with universal design principles constitute the exit point of this research, through studying the entrance-exits of a shopping mall as a large programmed shopping center in the public space and the halls of a shopping mall as horizontal circulation elements. It is aimed to observe in the treated shopping mall the suitability of the physical comfort criterias to the universal design standards. Study includes a detailed universal design-oriented observation of physical comfort criteria that must be provided, and from this point of view, its evaluation and determination in the areas of usage that are addressed. Creating awareness about the perception of universal design, this study is intended to give architects, interior architects and landscape architects direction at important points in shopping mall designs in the architectual sense. Moreover; from the perspective of shopping mall managment, it is considered to be necessary to provide service by designing according to the universal design principals. In the practical sense, on the other hand, it is predicted to become a resource for the academic studies to come. In a large programmed shopping mall, field studies through taking photos, observation and evaluation on the spot, empathy via applied experimentation (acting like a disabled person) methods have been used. In the analysed shopping mall, compatibility of the treated spaces with universal design features and compliance degree of physical comfort criterias to the universal design standards have been demonstrated in brief tables. The observations acquired through experimentation have been displayed via drawings and photos. It is observed that the shopping mall, in which the field study has been carried out, is in general terms compliant with universal design concept. The shopping mall which prioritizes customer comfort is human focused and the shopping mall is considered as a positive one as it eases its users actions and orients the users. In addition to this, it is observed that all precautions required for fully blind persons have not been taken in the shopping mall. Despite some measures taken in this direction, it is seen that these measures remain insufficient.

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