Sense of Privacy and Territoriality as a Function of Spatial Layout in University Public Spaces

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of spatial layout in a university public space on two socio-spatial phenomena: territoriality and privacy. The study is based on the assumption that different spatial layouts promote different levels of both territoriality and privacy, which are presumed to be interconnected with social interaction within these layouts. The study tested the effect of five types of outdoor spatial layouts which varied in their architectural and landscape elements. The subjects of the study were all university students who used to hang around the outdoor space of the study. The results indicated the following: First, spatial layout influences our sense of territoriality and sense of privacy, and that vertical spatial elements have greater impact than horizontal ones. Second, both territoriality and privacy are influenced by our ability to control interaction with others. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between territoriality and privacy.