Space Syntax Method Research Articles

Food Production and Distribution from Home Industry in Kampung Kota Jakarta: an Exploration of Urban Spatial Trajectory

Foods produced in the kampung area by home base entrepreneurs or people who gather for home industry/food domestic industry. Foods journey creates a route of production and distribution process that generates a hub. Therefore, the processing of this food has a trajectory that is beyond the local territory in a kampung. The range of food processes is represented by a theory of spatial trajectories to see the process of food production and show the spatial system, which is a part of food mobility. Observation of food routes is carried out by paying attention to flow, network, and motion using space syntax methods. The results of this research using space syntax methods will show the spatial trajectory of the product exceeds beyond kampung area, which makes it an important hub.

The Role of Urban Morphology Design on Enhancing Physical Activity and Public Health.

Along with environmental pollution, urban planning has been connected to public health. The research indicates that the quality of built environments plays an important role in reducing mental disorders and overall health. The structure and shape of the city are considered as one of the factors influencing happiness and health in urban communities and the type of the daily activities of citizens. The aim of this study was to promote physical activity in the main structure of the city via urban design in a way that the main form and morphology of the city can encourage citizens to move around and have physical activity within the city. Functional, physical, cultural-social, and perceptual-visual features are regarded as the most important and effective criteria in increasing physical activities in urban spaces, based on literature review. The environmental quality of urban spaces and their role in the physical activities of citizens in urban spaces were assessed by using the questionnaire tool and analytical network process (ANP) of structural equation modeling. Further, the space syntax method was utilized to evaluate the role of the spatial integration of urban spaces on improving physical activities. Based on the results, consideration of functional diversity, spatial flexibility and integration, security, and the aesthetic and visual quality of urban spaces plays an important role in improving the physical health of citizens in urban spaces. Further, more physical activities, including motivation for walking and the sense of public health and happiness, were observed in the streets having higher linkage and space syntax indexes with their surrounding texture.

The spatial configuration analysis of a high school through a participatory approach

ABSTRACT School change is a degree of shift which require to respond to learners’ needs and new conditions. Schools’ climate is influenced by political, economic, social, and technological factors as well as educational methods. Due to the complexity of the factors affecting spatial configuration, new design approaches are needed. The research problem is how the spatial configuration of a school can be determined in a specific context from the perspective of stakeholders? To answer this question, a participatory approach and a pattern language have been used. Five groups of three participants took part in the process, each group consist of an architect, a student, and a teacher. In this research, the participatory process was performed in the data collection stage using the spatial matrix, group discussion, open-ended questionnaire, and pattern language. Changing the spatial configuration of a school was the final goal of this approach. The spatial configuration was analyzed through DepthmapX0.30 software implementing the space syntax method. Qualitative data also analyzed using Atlas-ti software through the coding method. The results of the research present that the current school's model is not appropriate and the new learning environment should be redesigned based on collaboration, communication, and motivation of users.

Urban Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Citizens: The Case Study of Herrenberg, Germany

Cities are complex systems connected to economic, ecological, and demographic conditions and change. They are also characterized by diverging perceptions and interests of citizens and stakeholders. Thus, in the arena of urban planning, we are in need of approaches that are able to cope not only with urban complexity but also allow for participatory and collaborative processes to empower citizens. This to create democratic cities. Connected to the field of smart cities and citizens, we present in this paper, the prototype of an urban digital twin for the 30,000-people town of Herrenberg in Germany. Urban digital twins are sophisticated data models allowing for collaborative processes. The herein presented prototype comprises (1) a 3D model of the built environment, (2) a street network model using the theory and method of space syntax, (3) an urban mobility simulation, (4) a wind flow simulation, and (5) a number of empirical quantitative and qualitative data using volunteered geographic information (VGI). In addition, the urban digital twin was implemented in a visualization platform for virtual reality and was presented to the general public during diverse public participatory processes, as well as in the framework of the “Morgenstadt Werkstatt” (Tomorrow’s Cities Workshop). The results of a survey indicated that this method and technology could significantly aid in participatory and collaborative processes. Further understanding of how urban digital twins support urban planners, urban designers, and the general public as a collaboration and communication tool and for decision support allows us to be more intentional when creating smart cities and sustainable cities with the help of digital twins. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the presented results and further research directions.

CONSOLIDATION OF URBAN VILLAGE SETTLEMENT PATTERNS USING HYBRID ARCHITECTURE CONCEPT APPROACH; Case Study: Densely Populated Settlement of Sindulang Satu Village, Manado

The hybrid concept that develops in urban community settlements in an unplaning manner has led to various forms of settlement patterns that are adapted to social, economic and environmental conditions. This hybridity condition is potential for more innovative settlement consolidation efforts. This research was conducted to examine the quality of the hybridity formed in urban village settlements in Sindulang Satu Village, Manado, and to find the consolidation principle of settlement patterns by developing hybridity values at the site location. The quality of the hybridity was examined based on the perspective of programming hybrid, operational hybrid and spatial hybrid. This study used a qualitative research method, with modeling and experimental simulation technique approach. The analysis of settlement space performance was done by statistical calculations and graphical analysis using space syntax method. The research data was obtained using questionnaire, interviews and observations methods of samples that met the criteria of purposive sampling. The results of this study showed the potential of the hybridity in site locations with good quality, so that it became a consideration in formulating the principle of settlement pattern consolidation to increase site hybridity.

Providing care quality by design: a new measure to assess hospital ward layouts

Which hospital ward layout works best? In the past, one response to this question has been to design layouts that minimise walking distances of healthcare workers, and increase the time spent with their patients. However, new research suggests that good face-to-face communication between doctors and nurses crucially impacts the health and safety of patients. Taking this into account, this research proposes a new single measure called Spaces for Communication Index (SCI). It assesses communication opportunities arising from the layout, and shows that a high index is associated with the provision of good healthcare. Six NHS wards were first studied in depth by collecting detailed information about movement and communication patterns of healthcare workers. The index was developed on this basis. Thirty-one NHS wards were then selected, based on their quality of care rating. These were used to test the index. Each ward was analysed with the Space Syntax method, which investigated the size of visual fields of healthcare workers on everyday movement paths through the ward. Large viewsheds provide good visibility and awareness of the environment. As a result, they accrue more communication opportunities by virtue of the layout. Statistical analysis was also used to test if the index can predict care quality. Other factors such as distances between key areas, number of patient beds or ward size were tested, too. Results showed that the higher the index, the better the quality of care. The other factors were not related to healthcare quality. In terms of design, these results highlight the importance of the openness of spaces that healthcare workers traverse to get from one key area to another. This research contributes to the development of an objective method that designers can use to compare different nursing unit designs, and anticipate the care quality that would be provided to patients.

Sensory Synaesthesia: Combined Analyses Based on Space Syntax in African Urban Contexts

The organization of past urban space continues to be an important focus of archaeological research in sub-Saharan Africa where the methods of space syntax now offer new interpretations of the built environment. Traditionally, space syntax uses access analysis graphs for buildings and axial maps for towns to represent and analyze the configuration of space as a network. Using perspectives from neuroscience and the social sciences, this paper presents several case studies to illustrate how space syntax can be adapted to provide a multisensory “synaesthetic” perspective on African urban environments while also addressing their cultural contexts. These case studies, which focus on historic towns from East and West Africa, incorporate analyses of visibility and movement as tactile perception to examine house layout, street networks, and the socio-spatial role of urban quarters. This demonstrates how the graphic representation of space syntax analyses can help us better understand spatial partitioning and material dimensions of urban space as cultural heritage that affects sensory perceptions such as vision and kinaesthetics.

The use of space syntax method in mapping passive contacts in slum area of Semanggi, Surakarta

Social interactions happen anytime and anywhere, started with human actions and/or movements. These movements lead to a meeting between people indicating opportunities to know and to admit the existence of each other and discover each other’s nature through observations and conversations. This is called `passive contact`. This research is conducted to test the passive contacts that happen in settlement using space syntax method and then compare it with direct observation. Space syntax works objectively without involving goals and motivation, assuming nothing about the individual and their cognitive capacity explicitly, despite human are moving and socializing to another directed by their cognition. Spatial configuration used in spatial layout of urban space or a settlement, analysed by space syntax methods producing an axial map that presents the degree of connectivity, integrity and intelligibility value. This research used case study method with Semanggi as the case. The results of this research show that space syntax method is not enough to explain how passive contact can be formed. Therefore, additional research needs to be done to cover the factors that can not be covered by space syntax analysis. Direct observation in certain periods is considered very effective to cover the gap of analysis that space syntax could not cover.

Geleneksel Kırsal Konut Tipolojileri Üzerinden Kültür-Mekân İlişkilerinin Mekân Dizimi Yöntemiyle İncelenmesi: Düzce İli Örneği

Geleneksel Kırsal Konut Tipolojileri Üzerinden Kültür-Mekân İlişkilerinin Mekân Dizimi Yöntemiyle İncelenmesi: Düzce İli Örneği

Using the Space Syntax Analysis to Examine the Spatial Configuration of Houses Layouts and Its Transformation over Time in Biskra City

Urban complexity of the Algerian town, in this case the city of Biskra, consisting of a compilation of different fabrics through history (the old city, the colonial fabric, and the post-independence fabric), has produced several housing types. Therefore, a variety of domestic architecture has emerged; vernacular, colonial, self-built (independent), and contemporary houses. Houses architecture is apparently different from one type to other in organization and morphological aspect. The study based on analytical-comparative to examine the transformation of the spatial organization of a sample of houses layouts from different periods of time (pre-colonial, colonial, independence, and contemporary period) in term of permeability, in Biskra city. The aim of this study is to uncover the genotype and the underlying characteristics of different spatial layouts by using the space syntax method. This paper explores the influence of inhabitant’s behaviors and the socio-cultural effects on the spatial configuration and space-functions of the houses layouts. In the context of discovering the differentiation and the similarities between the samples that consist of 16 houses: four houses from each period; an analysis has been carried out by applying the “Gammaanalysis” using the A-graph program in detecting the genotypical consistencies in their patterning.

Human Behaviour Simulation Using Space Syntax Methods

Abstract City is a multi-layered structure of social, cultural, and economic aspects and their relationship through the physical space. Recognition of some patterns in those relationships is the essence for defining fragmentations in urban fabric and suggesting solutions on how those fragmentations could be solved. The article analyses how different space syntax methods can be used to find patterns in the chosen urban environment. Space syntax allows to find urban relationships between physical environment and human behavior. Space syntax suggests a few different approaches on how these relationships could be simulated: Segment Analysis perceives environment as a network of paths or streets, visibility graph analysis concentrates on inter-visual relationships, while agent-based analysis uses simple artificial intelligence for modeling movement in open space. Consequentially, the aim of this research is to find out what human behaviour aspects each of these space syntax methods are able to simulate.

Morphological Structures of Historical Turkish Cities

In this study, morphological structures of the traditional fabrics of cities in Turkey, which have been shaped under the influence of various different cultures and geographical and climatic conditions in the historical process are presented via a mathematical interpretation. In this scope, spatial configuration and morphological structures of the historical cores of a total of fourteen cities selected from the seven geographical regions of Turkey, two cities from each (from the Marmara Region, Edirne and Bursa; from the Black Sea Region, Kastamonu and Trabzon; from the Central Anatolia Region, Sivas and Kayseri; from the Eastern Anatolia Region, Kars and Erzurum; from the Aegean Region, Mugla and Kutahya; from the South Eastern Anatolia Region, Urfa, Mardin and lastly from the Mediterranean Region, Tarsus and Antakya) region were analyzed comparatively using the Space Syntax method. In this method, the cities were analyzed in three main categories using eleven different parameters. These categories are convex space, axial space and syntactic space. Convex space analyzes were made using the paramters of convex articulation, convex deformation of the grid, grid convexity and convex ringness; axial space analyses were made using the paramters of axial articulation, axial integration of convex space, grid axiality and axial ringness; finally, syntactic space analyses were made using the parameters of integration, intelligibility and synergy. In conclusion, it could be said that historical fabrics of the cities in Turkey have synchronous structures, manifest regular reflections, have organic systems compared with the grid systems, and constitute higher intellibility and synergy.

Spatial configuration evaluation of Chinese rural houses through visual graph analysis for adaptive thermal comfort

In chapter 9, it was found that the spatial indicators can reflect the airflow performance. There is a positive or linear correlation between the spatial indicators (connectivity, integration and depth) and the airflow indicator (airflow rate). The indicators that reflect the accessibility of the spatial configuration, i.e. connectivity, integration and depth, reflect the potential of achieving natural ventilation of a particular spatial configuration. In the other words, a high degree of connectivity, integration and low depth value mean a high accessibility of the spatial configuration and a high potential of obtaining natural ventilation. This result is useful for the architectural design practice, especially in the early design stage. In chapter 10, the extended space syntax methods in the program of Depthmap for natural ventilation potential analysis were proposed by the author. In this chapter 11, the proposed methods for spatial analysis will be used for design practice. The spatial configurations of a number of Chinese rural house designs in the area studied will be evaluated in terms of natural ventilation potential for thermal summer comfort by the proposed spatial analysis methods. The rural houses as a case study in this research is chosen because the Chinese rural houses normally using passive ways to achieve thermal comfort in summer, therefore the spatial configuration for natural ventilation is important, as the author concluded in part 1 in this thesis. In addition, the rural population in China accounts for 40% of the total population with a total amount of approximately 560 million at the end of 2018 (NBSC, 2018). At the end of 2014, there were more than 585,451 villages in China and the rural housing area is at present 22.6 billion m², within a total area of more than 40 billion m² of China’s urban and rural housing together. The amount of rural housing is constantly rising. According to 2010 data, the total floor space of newly built houses is 1.6 billion m², and half of them are rural residential buildings (NBSC, 2018). Therefore, improving the living environment for Chinese rural residential buildings is important for the sustainable development of China. Moreover, previous studies have been carried out on the sustainable development of Chinese rural residential building. However, many investigations and studies related to energy conservation and indoor thermal comfort have been proposed for northern China’s rural houses (Jin & Zhou, 2008; Lai, Zhang, Wei, & Zhang, 2011; Sun, 2003; Yang, Yang, Yan, & Liu, 2011; Zhao & Jin, 2007; Zheng, Li, & Yang, 2008), focusing on winter comfort. Studies of the Chinese rural residential building in the hot humid climate regions are scarce (Han, Zhang, & Zhou, 2009; Jin, Meng, Zhao, Zhang, & Chen, 2013; Liu, Tan, Chen, Chu, & Zhang, 2013; Xie & Shi, 2012). Studies of spatial configuration for passive cooling of rural residential building design are very scarce.

Methods of spatial analysis for natural ventilation potential

The basic theory of space syntax was described in section 2 of chapter 9. Some methods have been developed from the theory of spatial analysis to explore the spatial structure of buildings and cities. The DepthmapX-one graph-based representations and measures program (Turner, 2001) is one of the most important platforms for space syntax analysis. Convex and axial analysis, isovist and VGA analysis, as well as segment analysis are the methods involved in this programme (Al_Sayed, Turner, Hillier, Iida, & Penn, 2014). The axial and segment analysis are more suitable for the analysis at the urban scale. The convex analysis is suitable for the building scale and isovist and VGA analysis are suitable for both urban and building scale. Many cases have been studied to reveal the topological relationship between the spaces which is related to the social behaviour of human in building or urban scale via DepthmapX. In this chapter, the traditional space syntax methods for building spatial analysis used in the Depthmap were discussed firstly. Then, the author shows how to extended the traditional methods for natural ventilation potential analysis.

Investigating the role of semi-open spaces on the sociability of public libraries using space syntax (Case Studies: Sunrise Mountain and Desert Broom Libraries, Arizona, USA)

Abstract Nowadays, in spite of the positive efforts made in recent years, active public libraries are still faced with challenges in attracting and retaining their users through the provision of up-to-date services to meet their scientific, cultural and recreational requirements. Accordingly, the need to create spaces with the approach of sociability in public libraries seems to be necessary. In this way, the Space Syntax method, as a predictor of the social aspects of architectural spaces, has been used in order to evaluate the role of semi-open spaces on the sociability of public libraries in the existing and hypothetical models using Depthmap. Finally, the findings of the two simulated models were examined and compared with each other using SPSS and the independent sample t-test. The findings from the Sunrise Mountain Library analysis indicated that in the existing model, the integration level was 20.49. However, after eliminating the semi-open spaces, the level of integration decreased to 15.48. Also, the findings obtained from the Desert Broom Library indicated that in the existing model, the integration level was 10.10. However, in the hypothetical model, its degree of integration changed to 8.15. Results show that semi-open spaces have a positive effect on the sociability of public libraries.

PENATAAN ELEMEN SIRKULASI VERTIKAL PADA GEDUNG UNPAR JL.MERDEKA no.30 BANDUNG MELALUI PENDEKATAN SPACE SYNTAX DAN KRITERIA HERITAGE

There is a need for easier vertical circulation facilities, especially given the need for people with disabilities and parents in historic buildings, especially in buildings that still function as public buildings to date. This is because in general these buildings use stairs as a means of vertical circulation while the activities inside have increased so that more efficient vertical circulation is needed such as elevators. The problem is how to determine the placement of vertical circulation facilities in historical buildings, which sometimes do not accommodate the placement of new vertical circulation facilities and placement should be in locations that are easily accessible and seen by users but at the same time also pay attention to the rules of buildingconservation rules. This study aims to show the use of the Space Syntaxmethod can be used in conjunction with the conservation study of historic buildings to determine the placement of vertical circulation facilities in buildings as a space study tool that will determine the location of placement in terms of accesibility and connectedness of space which will then be used to determine placement new elements in the building while paying attention to the principles of cultural heritage conservation. The study used quantitative methods of ekseprimental simulation with the use of Depthmap's computer program as a tool for analysis of simulation of the Space Syntaxmethod, supported by heritage provisions as a guide to limits of changes allowed in cultural heritage buildings. The results showed that the use of Space Syntaxcan be used in conjunction with the analysis of building conservation to determine elevator placement in locations that pay attention to the study of ease of achievement and observation of usersbut still pay attention to the influence of the placement on historical and architectural elements of the building shown in the case study of the UNPAR building Jl.merdeka no.30 Bandung.

Space Design for Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Summer

Space Design for Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Summer

Land-Use, Street Configuration and Pedestrian Volume: The Case of a Historic Town, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

This study explores the relative connections among pedestrian movement patterns, land use and street configuration by analyzing the pedestrian volume, existing land use pattern as well as the street configuration in different streets of Mymensingh. Mymensingh is a historic town of Bangladesh which was established by the British Colonists in more than 200 years ago along the river Brahmaputra. The street patterns of Mymensingh is very unique as it was developed by the fusion of the streets made by British Colonists and the narrow streets made by the local inhabitants. By using the method of Space Syntax the configurational values of street segments are compared with the corresponding pedestrian counts. The study result shows that the correlation is very poor within this two factors as commercial land uses affects the pedestrians more.

Application of space syntax method to measure spatial connectivity in campus of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)

In line with ITS’s vision to create an eco-friendly campus, there is an effort to decrease the use of private vehicles in ITS campus. The role of pedestrian lanes is very important to encourage and support eco-friendly transportation in campus area. Transportation system should be supported by mode of transport with equal, feasible, and humane pedestrian lane. ITS has already begun to develop pedestrian lanes in parts of their campus. Ideally, the development of pedestrian lanes should be linked to form a network, connecting centres of activities. Therefore, the aim of this research is to determine the level of connectivity of pedestrian ways in ITS’s Sukolilo campus area as an input for future development of pedestrian lanes. This study employed on-site observations and connectivity calculations by way of Space Syntax. Analysis shows that 70% of pedestrian ways in the Sukolilo campus are of very low connectivity. This is due to unintegrated pedestrian lanes and poorly coordinated campus development.

The Sustainable Development of Street Texture of Historic and Cultural Districts―A Case Study in Shichahai District, Beijing

This paper explores the sustainable development of historic and cultural districts based on the case study of the Shichahai District in Beijing, China. By using the space syntax method, this paper traces the changing street texture of the Shichahai District during the Yuan period, the Ming period, the Qing period, and the current period. It attempts to examine (1) the characteristics of the traditional street structure of Old Beijing; (2) the major changes of street fabric and their causes during the historical periods; and (3) the impacts of modern land use pattern on urban street structure. This research finds that the main street texture remains relatively stable in the Shichahai District. However, the increasing dependence on cars in Beijing decreases street vitality in general. But the combination of pedestrian and community-level commercial streets helps enhancing the liveliness of historic and cultural districts, which further promotes the preservation and development of these neighborhoods.