Visitor-Reported Outcomes Before and After Circulation Reorganisation in the Educational Reuse of a Hakka Weilong House

Abstract

Adaptive reuse can extend the service life of traditional buildings, but educational reuse also depends on whether visitors can follow the circulation system and understand the cultural relationships expressed through space. This study compared visitor-reported outcomes before and after circulation reorganisation in a Hakka weilong house adapted for educational visits. Independent visitor cohorts completed a 15-item questionnaire at T1 and T2. A total of 200 questionnaires were included, with 100 responses at each stage. Analysis comprised scale reliability testing and Welch independent-samples t tests with effect sizes. Route clarity increased from 3.10 at T1 to 4.06 at T2, visual continuity from 3.19 to 3.92, and cultural-node salience from 2.96 to 3.83. Perceived cultural legibility increased from 3.24 to 4.06, and overall evaluative response increased from 3.26 to 3.81. Perceived authenticity did not decline. Because the study used independent cohorts at a single site, the results are interpreted as stage-associated differences rather than causal effects. The findings indicate that visitor-reported circulation, cultural understanding, and evaluation can be examined together while authenticity remains a separate conservation safeguard.