In
architecture, circulation refers to the way people move through and interact with a building.
[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/118392/circulation "circulation (architecture)" in Britannica Online Encyclopedia] In public buildings, circulation is of high importance; Structures such as
elevators,
escalators
An escalator is a moving staircase which carries people between floors of a building or structure. It consists of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps on a track which cycle on a pair of tracks which keep the step tread horizo ...
, 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.
References
Architectural design
{{Architecturalelement-stub