Spatial Configuration and User Satisfaction of Family centers

With the growing diversity of family structures, including single-person, single-parent, and multicultural families, the role of family centers as public welfare facilities is increasingly important. Recent designs follow consulting guidelines that consider environmental factors to improve spatial quality. However, research on how the physical environment of family centers affects users' psychological and social experiences remains limited. This study examines user satisfaction with spatial configurations to identify strategies for strengthening social function and effective spatial design. Five family centers, recognized as exemplary by the Korea Healthy Family Support Center, were selected. Through literature review and field surveys, spatial configurations and design elements were analyzed. Expert-selected ambiance and environment items were surveyed in one-on-one interviews, analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0. Findings revealed that family center spaces—organized into care, communication, specialized, educational, counseling, and administrative areas—improved significantly in care and communication functions over previous facilities. Ambiance factors such as ‘pleasantness’ scored highest, reflecting a comfortable, non-authoritative perception of family centers. Functionality and circulation were rated highly, though creative design scored lower. Overall, family centers were viewed positively for enhancing community cohesion and regional image. This study underscores the importance of improving physical environments in family centers to enhance user satisfaction and positively impact community perceptions.