Integration of Environmental and Social Values in Cultural Spaces:Sustainable and Inclusive Wayfinding Materials for Museums

In the context of use of large museum centers,numerous national and international methodological experiments show that the wayfinding project must consider the needs of both habitual users(user-centered design)and local communities(design for communities)and the importance of environmental protection(eco-design)as a priority interest of the community.This“double target”,“user-centered”and“environment-centered”can be applied during the selection process of materials to be used in the project.With respect to these possibilities,this contribution intends to present the results of research focused on material characterization of the reception and distribution spaces of large museum centers.This characterization is based on use of sensory materials and aims to evaluate their impact on the usability and sustainability of wayfinding systems.The paper directed towards a proposal for organization of integrated information on new generation so-called smart materials;within the design of a wayfinding system,these can balance the aesthetic-perceptual and performance and environmental impact,in order to allow designers to make informed decisions oriented towards inclusion and sustainability.The study was addressed by conducting two phases of systematic literature and library review of materials.The investigations conducted led to achievement of a first research result which consists in the identification of a“standard sheet”for the mapping and cataloging of the materials used for wayfinding.The“standard sheet”allows organizing the information on smart,sensorial,and eco-friendly materials,balancing the aesthetic-perceptive component with the performance on the environmental impact along the entire life cycle in a circular perspective.This tool could guide designers towards an environmental communication project oriented towards sustainability and is effective for usability and wayfinding.

Transference of the“Albergo Diffuso”Model to Spain:Regeneration of Uninhabited Rural Areas

In recent years,human health and user wellbeing have become more important in contemporary society and urban quality.This has been highlighted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world.Generating open-air urban spaces constitutes an opportunity to design walkable areas and paths that can produce direct positive effects on environmental health and indirect consequences on“lifestyles”.This design vision can be implemented within small localities where there are still important continuities and long-term relationships between the human scale of public spaces and the sense of place related to historic/traditional infrastructural pathways.The interest of various international research and of the WHO(World Health Organization)itself extends the subject of public health to the relationship of the individual with the environment,and with the rest of the social interactions,considering the latter a factor that can affect the reduction of illnesses.In order to act in the direction of improving people’s health,to determine the conditions for a life free of diseases and disabilities,and to generate cities and common spaces of use capable of encouraging the adoption of healthy and active lifestyles by people of all ages,the research makes a comparison between possible interventions in Italy and Spain.