Quantifying inner corridor space design elements for embedded retirement facilities based on eye-tracking

Embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) offer the dual advantages of resource integration and personalized services within a community-based setting. In these facilities, inner corridors serve as the primary circulation spaces for older adults. However, the design of these inner corridors often tends to be monotonous and enclosed, which can hinder social interaction and induce feelings of confinement and psychological discomfort. To address this issue, this study focuses on the spatial tension and behavioral accommodation characteristics exhibited by different inner corridor nodes, examining their regulatory role in shaping the environmental atmosphere and spatial experience of older adults in continuous circulation spaces. Building on these insights, the study proposes a generalized workflow for extracting spatial design elements using eye-tracking technology. First, based on a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and field research, typical spatial configurations of inner corridor spatial nodes in ERFs are systematically identified and analyzed. Secondly, by integrating eye-tracking technology with subjective assessment methods, the research extracts key spatial design elements that influence visual attention and overall satisfaction among older adults across three dimensions: spatial interface, spatial atmosphere, and spatial facilities. Finally, building on these analyses, the study quantitatively examines the correlations between older adults' eye movement indices and their subjective satisfaction, thereby prioritizing the key spatial design elements. This approach aims to provide an evidence-based foundation and practical guidance for enhancing spatial experience in inner corridor spaces of ERFs.