الفهرس 
Hypothesis
Spatial experience in barrier free environmentOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Environmental psychology clarified the significant role of the built environment on the performance of all the users within any surrounding environment and spaces. There are a direct and effective relationship between the users and their surrounding built environments.
The built environment has a great impact and influence on the perception, cognition abilities for all the users and effect on their behaviour and attitude within any spaces, it is responsible for achieving the accessibility and usability for all types of users, despite, their difference in their abilities and necessities, to fulfill all the their needs and requirements through a great spatial experience, and an inclusive environments for all the users.
The users’ needs are different and range from one to another according to their abilities, their necessities and needs. According to Lang, it is important to be aware from the relation between the humans and their needs and the physical environment while designing the elements of the built environment which can afford their demands.
The mentally challenged are built environment users, who are characterized by lack in the perception and cognition abilities which signifies a great barriers facing them in perceiving and finding their way within the built environment independently, without any help and more important with dignity to enhance and facilities their life, to lead to full integration and acceptance within their community.
The elements of the built environment has the ability to adapt all the users, especially the mentally challenged and enable them to function successfully within it by affording spatial knowledge, information, cues and mental images which help and assist in accessibility and navigation within any public buildings to facilitate their life. The elements of the built environment had a great impact on their adaption and integration within any built environment and in destroying all the physical, social and all other barriers and obstacles that faces them within their life and community, to achieve a barrier free environments with a good spatial experience.
The research based on the relation between two main aspects: the users who are the mentally challenged, focusing on the first two types of the mentally challenged, the mild mentally challenged and the moderate mentally challenged, as they can function, interact and integrate independently within the society and the built environment including its eight different elements, which are divided to wayfinding elements including its five aspects as spatial organization, landmarks, directories, maps and signs, then colours, light, acoustics, texture, smell, heat and guidance facilities to investigate about its effect, impact and influence on the users within a public buildings.
A spatial model for the elements of the built environment in a barrier free environment is proposed, to be applied on seven international case studies by analyzing and evaluating these case studies to obtain suggestions and recommendations to improve these elements of the built environment, to reach to the most effective elements to have a spatial experience model in the barrier free environment for the mentally challenged users in a public buildings.
The research highlighted on some inquires, and questioned to be answered within its chapters.
• How the built environment interact with the mentally challenged users to assist their accessibility?
• What is the role and the effect of the elements of the built environment on the mentally challenged?
• How these elements effect on their accessibility and integration and adaption within the surrounding built environment?
• Which one of these elements are more effective and influential on the users within the built environments?
• How to improve these elements of the built environment for more successful spatial experience for the mentally challenged users, to lead to full integration and acceptance within the community and a productive person with full confidence and independently actions