Circulation (architecture)

In architecture, circulation refers to the way people move through and interact with a building.^[1] In public buildings, circulation is of high importance; Structures such as elevators, escalators, and staircases are often referred to as circulation elements, as they are positioned and designed to optimize the flow of people through a building, sometimes through the use of a core.

In some situations, one-way circulation is desirable.

'Circular connection' is one of the essential concepts of living space organization. Most commonly it involves the formation of a continuous communication within the system chain of inter-related rooms. It is used in situations where it is desired to achieve a higher level of space in terms of the small surface area, thereby diluting or neutralizing the feeling of lack of space, but also in larger surface area with the aim of clearly differentiating or linking distant functional areas. The science has not recorded the first use of circular connection in history, although it can certainly be argued that the earliest examples existed during the Middle Ages, and some presence of the concept is noted even centuries before this.^[2]

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