Wayfinding in historical urban landscapes: unraveling the spatial-behavioral dynamics in Eskisehir’s Odunpazari

This study explores the interplay between route planning and wayfinding in Eskisehir Odunpazari’s historical landscape, focusing on the influence of spatial configuration and familiarity on navigation strategies. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research contrasts familiar and unfamiliar participants’ experiences. First, space syntax and urban spatial analysis describe the physical layout. Following this, surveys and cognitive mapping tasks assess participant behavior. Findings indicate that locals wayfinding using established knowledge and landmarks, often taking shortcuts that reflect their complex urban awareness, while visitors rely on prominent landmarks and social spaces for orientation. Notably, all participants show a reliance on landmarks, with visibility and spatial complexity impacting navigation efficiency across groups. However, the study’s scope is limited, examining only one historical landscape and involving a small sample size, which may introduce subjective biases due to reliance on self-reported data and cognitive maps. This research provides valuable insights into wayfinding differences between locals and visitors in a historical context. By integrating spatial and behavioral analyses, it emphasizes the importance of designing urban landscapes that cater to both local and visitor needs, offering potential applications for urban planning and conservation strategies aimed at improving wayfinding in heritage sites.