The Impact of Facade Design in Community Pharmacies on Conveying Operational Status and Enhancing the Ease of Entry

Abstract

The influence of storefronts on customer perceptions and behaviors has been widely noted in commercial environmental design and architectural studies. However, these studies have focused on general commercial stores. There is insufficient specialized knowledge regarding pharmacies, which operate under unique constraints, such as medical-related services, including privacy considerations and a customer base consisting primarily of purpose-driven visitors. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between the exterior facade of a dispensing pharmacy and the communication of its open status, as well as the perceived “ease of entry” experienced by visitors. An evaluation experiment was conducted, and qualitative aspects were extracted from the photographs. The findings suggest that “interior visibility” and “store brightness” are important factors in the interpretation of operational status within this study. In addition, store brightness was assessed relative to the external environment, indicating the importance of presenting information in a manner that is not influenced by relative evaluation. These findings represent an initial step in identifying relevant design factors, providing a basis for future research incorporating quantitative measures and practical design evaluation.

Keywords: Ease Of Entry, Facade Design, Open And Closed Signs

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007748