Understanding Space: The Nascent Synthesis of Cognition and the Syntax of Spatial Morphologies

Abstract

From space and society to space and the individual Space syntax is a term that is used to describe a family of theories and techniques concerning the relationship between space and society. It emerged from a group based at University College London, in the early 1970s, led by Bill Hillier and Julienne Hanson. One aim underpinning this research was to understand the relationship between space and society (in contrast to space and an individual subject) (Hillier and Hanson, 1984). Initially, it was thought that the spatial arrangements of buildings, neighbourhoods, or settlements could be considered artefacts of their society: as such, the examination of such spatial systems may reveal fundamental values and societal structures (as would be true of studying any other kind of artefact). However, the relationship between space and society is a two-way relationship: not only does a society create the spaces that it uses, but a group of people (be it the inhabitants of a settlement, an urban neighbourhood, or the users of a complex building) are directly affected and influenced by the spaces they inhabit. In particular, one extremely powerful way in which a pattern of spaces, or a configuration, affects its users is through pedestrian movement. Any set of spaces, of sufficient complexity to be described as a configuration, tends to form a spatial hierarchy in which some spaces become more strategic and others less so. These strategic or, on average, more accessible spaces will tend to attract a higher rate of pedestrian movement than other, more segregated spaces. This is elaborated in Bafna's (2003) introduction to space syntax. One of the key methods of analysis used in space syntax research is a graph-based technique that is able to identify and represent this varying pattern of more-to-less strategic spaces. It is further hypothesised that people have an innate ability to `read' or comprehend the meanings of different arrangements or layouts of spaces (Hillier and Hanson, 1984). It is this aspect of attempting to understand how the meaning of spatial environments is communicated that connects space syntax to other academic fields interested in environmental cognition. How is it that a spatial configuration becomes meaningful? How are meanings transmitted? How are they understood? What range of meanings is encapsulated? By starting to ask such questions, the centre of space syntax research starts to shift its emphasis from society as a whole (ie, the origins of space syntax) to a line of enquiry that is firmly focused on individuals and their cognitive processes. And this, in turn, can be seen as the start of a line of enquiry that leads to a potential convergence with disciplines such as psychology that have their origins in the relationship between an individual and his or her context. Along this research arc there have been certain significant papers. Guest editorial Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 2012, volume 39, pages 7 ^ 11