2. Floor Plan Analysis -Space Syntax
To answer questions arising from the every day practice of
disciplines including planning, design, economics,
transport, sociology and property development, space
syntax has developed various techniques for applying
interpretive models from syntactic theories.
4. Representations of space – how does space syntax represent space?
Spatial form analysis – how does space syntax measure and analyse
spatial relationships? A
Interpretive models – how does space syntax study the role of spatial
form in the functioning of a place and vice versa? B How is the approach
useful for architects and planners?
Case studies – how are these methods deployed in academic research
as well as planning and design practice? how is space syntax applied in
urban and building projects?
7. Representations of space
Space syntax aims to provide an objective method for
representing the continuous spatial layout of a building, in
relation to the way we use it.
1. Convex map
Buildings can be represented as convex maps in which
rooms and doorways are treated as convex spaces and
adjacent accesses as links
For example, the plan of a farmhouse in Normandy (A) can
be converted into a convex map with convex spaces framed
in red (B) and doorways denoted in blue. The convex map
can then be converted into a graph (C) with rooms as nodes
and doorways as links when two adjacent spaces are
connected via a doorway
8. Visibility graph
Buildings can also be represented by a grid of points to
form a visibility graph, where each point is connected to
every other point that it can see. In this way, every space
within the layout would be categorised by their inter-
visibility.
The basic constructing element of a visibility graph is the
isovist (D), that is, the volume of space directly visible
from a location within the space.
A visibility graph (E) is constructed when you overlap
these isovists from every space to every other space
where cells are nodes and each mutually visible
connections between them are links.
9. Spatial form analysis
1. How are spatial relations measured and analysed?
A set of syntactic methods are applied to measure interior layout of a building, with
regards to spatial configuration.
1. Convex map or J-graph analysis
One of the basic tools for analysing building layout is convex map analysis. Below is
an example of how to create or undertake the analysis.
a. Construct graph
Convert a building layout into a graph (A) in which each node indicates a room and
the links between them indicate doorways.
b. Step depth
Step depth measures from the root space, the number of steps required to reach all
the other rooms in the building. A Justified or J-graph is a representation of step
depth from a particular room. For example, the J-graph of Room 5 (B) is shallower
than Room 10.
c. Integration measure
Integration values can be then calculated according to the number of steps required
to reach every other room in the system. The higher the integration, the fewer the
steps required to traverse every room in the building.
d. Integration thematic (C)
Colour up the layout according to integration values of the nodes, where red denotes
more integrated rooms, and blue indicates more segregated rooms. This enables us
to capture relationships between each room to all others.
10. Spatial form analysis
2. Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA)
Visibility graph analysis (VGA) is a widely used
technique to analyse spaces within a building. It is carried
out as follows:
a. Construct a grid (A)
Make the point locations for analysis by overlaying a
uniform grid above a building layout and filling the spaces
we seek to analyse. The grid spacing controls the
resolution of the analysis.
b. Create visibility graph
Draw isovists (B) from each cell to all the other cells and
overlap them to construct a visibility graph.
c. VGA Integration (C)
Create integration pattern of the layout by colouring up
each point according to the integration values. The result
shows how easy it is to see all the spaces within the layout
from each point. For the procedure on generating a VGA
integration pattern, see here.
Note: The VGA can be applied to two levels, eye level for
what people can see, and knee level for how people can
move which is critical in understanding spatial layouts.
11. 3. Agent Analysis
Visibility graphs can also be analysed through agent analysis,
which studies movement patterns shaped by spatial configuration.
An agent is an automata which navigate using visibility information
available to them through the visibility graph. The analysis is
conducted as follows (for detail, see here):
a. Create a visibility graph
Create the visibility graph as we do in the VGA;
b Run agent analysis
Select a location (or several locations) to release the agents and
click ‘Run Agent Analysis’. For example, we release 50 agents
near the entrance of the National Gallery. Agents can also be
randomly released from any location in the grid.
c Agent trace pattern (A)
Visualise each cell of the grid by counting the number of times
each agent traverses across it, where red indicates high density
and blue indicates low density.
12. Spatial function analysis
How is building function described and measured?
The following demonstrates several methods of observing and measuring the
ways buildings are used.
1. Pedestrian Traces (A)
Pedestrian tracing is a technique of observing pedestrian routes dispersing from a
specific location. For example a train station.
a. Study area
Have a plan of a building, with the specific location from which we trace the routes
people take as we follow them.
b. Following
Record the routes of movement, particularly the first ten minutes of an individual’s
trace.
c. Digitalisation
Digitise the recorded movement routes to demonstrate the followed movement
patterns.
2. Static snapshot (B)
Static snapshots is a technique of observing pedestrian stationary activity.
a. Study area
Select a large scale plan of a building under observation and divide it into a series
of convex spaces with which pedestrian activity snapshot can be undertaken.
b. Activity category
Categorise the activities into sitting, standing, walking and so on.
c. Snapshots
Walk from space to space taking a mental snapshot of the activities taking place
at a precise moment. The snapshot map reveals the pattern of sitting, standing,
interactions and directions of movement.
13. Interpretive models
How does space syntax help explain the relationship between the
built environment and human behaviour?
The qualitative and quantitative analyses allow us to explore how a
building layout impacts on the way people use the building, with regard
to movement as well as interaction between users or the different
types of users. It comprises several models as follows:
1. Movement model
a. Qualitative analysis
Space syntax use this to make a visual comparison between
visual integration pattern (A) and movement patterns (B). For
example, the two patterns shown in Fig. A and B strongly resemble
each other, though not perfectly.
b. Quantitative analysis
Space syntax uses statistical analysis to correlate observed movement
rates and the visual integration values within a building. This is then
used to predict movement if the layout is altered or re-organised. In the
case of the Tate Britain, nearly 70% movement rates can be predicted
by the visual integration pattern.
14. Case studies
How do we apply space syntax in building planning and design?
1. British Museum
One of the key objectives of the British Museum’s strategy is to increase
engagement levels between visitors and the collections. Space Syntax Limited was
commissioned by the British Museum to develop a baseline study of visitor
movement patterns and of the spatial layout of the museum. The general aims of the
study were to explain how visitors were using the museum, investigate the
characteristics of its spatial layout, and establish the effect of the spatial layout on
visitors’ experience. The baseline study was used to identify opportunities to improve
visitor flow patterns.
a. Diagnosis – problems, opportunities and constraints
Form – Visibility and accessibility analysis (A)
Key spatial issues: space was organised to allow for access both to objects and
people across departments.
Function – Observation study of pedestrian movement & stationary activities (B)
Key functional issues: the general circulation system is broken.
Interpretive models – space vs. movement, activities and departmental
organisation
Define opportunities and constraints and to provide the evidence for design
recommendations.
15. b. Prognosis – design development and forecast
Space Syntax Limited gave design recommendations to bring the public display
onto two floors of the building, and to create a grid on the two floors through a
series of courts;
To achieve intelligibility and an adequate dispersion of visitors onto the upper level
by re-organising vertical circulation at the intersections of the grid structure (C) ;
To bring the departments from the more outlying buildings into the core area of the
museum building;
To regenerate the Level 1 storage and object handling infrastructure, and provide
appropriate premises for this and for conservation activities;
To achieve greater interdepartmental accessibility while maintaining direct linkages
to display and storage, possibly through the vertical circulation.
c. The outcome
Using visitors data provided by the British Museum, together with data from direct
observation studies, we were able to assess the occupation capacity of entrances
and gallery spaces and then estimate the capacity for future growth. Our analysis
allowed us to propose both strategic and design solutions as well as management
changes, each aimed at addressing the strategic objective of extending and
enhancing visitor engagement with the collections (D).
17. Grasshopper 3D Rhino: A Modeling Software Redefining The Design
Process
Grasshopper 3D was created in a perspective to extend in those
area where Rhino 3D could not! It is a versatile plugin that takes
design complexities to a new-found level by exceeding the limit
beyond Rhino 3D. Although, Rhino 3D is a strong software tool in
itself that has the capability of editing, analysing, and dealing
with some of the most intense of architectural design and
detailing.
