SPACE SYNTAX 

Prepared by: maram foad obaidatshomoo aljizawi .

 Supervised by: Dr. Imad Al-Hashimi.

Contents:      1- Introduction.       2- Space syntax history.      3- Definitions.      4- Space Syntax Application.      5- Space Syntax Keys.      6- Theory and Analysis.      7- Syntactic Maps.      8- Syntactic Measures.      9- The Case Studies.

Introduction:• A well-known aphorism by Winston Churchill • We shape our buildings, and after

wards our buildings shape us.

‘’ A comparable belief in the influence of buildings and more generally of the built environment on humans is common in architectural and urban thinking.

• the spaces are understood as VOIDS (streets, squares, rooms,

fields, etc that restrain PEDESTRIAN traffic

and/or the visual field.

Space syntax History:• 1970s by Prof Bill HillerProf Julienne Hansoncolleagues at The Bartlett, Universitycollege London.

• Today, space syntax is used and developed in hundreds of

universities and educational institutions used as professional practices worldwide.

Built on quantitative analysis geospatial computer technology,it provides a set of theories and methods

for the analysis of spatial configurations of all kinds and at all scales.

Definitions:• The space syntax approach was

conceived to help architects simulate the likely effects of their designs on the people who occupied and moved around in them, by their buildings or urban settlements.

• These phenomena include patterns of movement awareness interaction Density land use land value urban growth societal differentiation safety crime distribution

• design applications in architecture, urban design, planning, transport and interior design.

Space syntax ... is a set of techniques forrepresentationQuantificationinterpretation of spatial configuration in

buildings and settlements.

Configuration is defined in general as, at least, the relation between two spaces taking into account a third, and, at most, as the relations among spaces in a complex taking into account all other spaces in the complex.

• Space Syntax’s unique contribution to the field of urban planning and design is in the identification of fundamental links between

spatial layout and the social, economic and environmental performance of places.

Space Syntax

Applicati

ons

Space Syntax Keys:• Space Syntax research has made five key discoveries that

demonstrate how spatial layout directly affects:

-  movement, such that Space Syntax models can be used as strategic traffic modeling tools for vehicle, pedestrian and cycling movement

-  land use, showing how land use performance is deeply influenced by spatial location

-  safety, allowing risk to be identified and safer places to be created-  land value, demonstrating the influence of spatial networks on

property economics- carbon emissions, highlighting the contribution of spatial planning

and design to environmental impact.

Theory and Analysis :• The general idea is that1. spaces can be broken down into components2. analyzed as networks of choices3. represented as maps and graphs that describe the

relative connectivity and integration of those spaces. It rests on three basic conceptions of space:

 Axial space

convex space 

Isovit

is a space where no line between any two of its points crosses the perimeter.

axial line is a straight linepossible to follow on foot.

space is the total area that can be viewed from a point.

Three types of syntactic maps:

• Convex mapdepicts the least number of convex spaces that fully cover a layout and the connections between them.

• Axial mapdepicts the least number of axial lines covering all convex spaces of a layout and their connections.

• Isovist map the volume of space visible from convex spaces or axial lines.

Syntactic measures:

Connectivity measures the number of immediate neighbors that are directly connected to a space. This is a static local measure.

They are used in quantitative representations of building and urban layouts:

Integrationis a static global measure. It describes the average depth of a space to all other spaces in the system.It describes how easy it is to get to one segment from all other segments.

Control value    is a dynamic local measure. It measures the degree to which a space controls access to its immediate neighbors taking into account the number of alternative connections that each of these neighbors has.

Global choice     is a dynamic global measure of the “flow” through a space. A space has a strong choice value when many of the shortest paths, connecting all spaces to all spaces of a system, passes through it.

THE CASE STUDIES

Margate’s Historic Core• The problem       Margate’s Old Town is a unique, historic 

environment but CUT OFF FROM THE WIDER TOWN CENTRE and under-used. 

they wanted a solution to1. unlock the potential of the Old Town.2. attract investment there.• the contributionidentifying and illustrating the key physical 

constraints to social and economic regeneration in the Old Town.

analysis of the historic evolution of the centre( its current patterns of economic activity)( its patterns of pedestrian movement)

 they found that the Old Town has a simple, usable internal layout but is largely impenetrable from the outside. 

Visitors to Margate simply can’t find their way in.

Spatial Integration Analysis

• solution1. create a new, highly visible route into the 

Old Town, which became known as “Old Town Way”. they tested this route using a pedestrian movement model it brought improvements in pedestrian 

flows.  it became the base for the overall 

regeneration plan.• The outcome it raised the profile of the Old Town in the eyes 

of developers and policymakers. the Master plan which highlights the 

importance of drawing movement into the Old Town 

Spatial Integration Analysis

Strategic Designgot a

STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT.STRONG DEVELOPERS AND POLICYMAKERS SUPPORT.

Jeddah Plan improvement of the numerous unplanned areas

• The opportunity      One of the main objectives of the the Strategic 

Planning Framework (SPF) for Jeddah, completed in April 2006 by Space Syntax, 

improvement of the numerous unplanned areas in Jeddah.

massive period of growth in the 1950s and 1960sthen became over populated and stagnated. now mixture of physical and social problems that are 

getting worse as the city continues to grow.

 The central unplanned areas in particular lack connections between their interior layouts and the surrounding urban route 

structure.This pattern inhibits reinvestment in these areas and 

exacerbates the cycle of overcrowding, capital flight, and social segregation.

Unplanned area analysis

Jeddah Plan

• contribution      In order to address the issue of the Central 

Unplanned Areas, an advanced spatial diagnostic methodology was developed to SHOW WHICH WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT ROUTES IN EACH OF THE SETTLEMENTS.

1.        First, the isolated core of the settlement was detected by local accessibility analysis.

2. link the smaller fragments to the larger structure of city-wide routes.

• The outcomeredevelopment strategy1.  creates smooth transitions from city-wide 

access to local routes within the unplanned settlements

2. reconnecting the settlements to the larger city 3. preserving the unique character and sense of 

place.4. integrates the unplanned areas with their 

surroundings 5. encourages socio-economic improvement.

Local spatial accessibility analysis

Case study methodolog

Beijing CBD low carbon puts people first

• Summary     Working as a design union, The China Academy 

of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD) and Space Syntax have 

created a low carbon master plan for the extension of Beijing’s CBD – one that

puts people first.

• The opportunity     The Central Business District (CBD) of Beijing is schedule to grow significantlyin the near future. Initial growth is designated for the Chaoyang 

district to its north-east. create visions for this expansion. The brief for the competition put a significant 

emphasis on the twin themes of 

sustainability and people-centred design.

The new CBD

The existing CBD is characterized by • high levels of vehicle traffic•  high demands on public transport

infrastructure •   high demands on energy-intensive

buildings. • People travel long distances to reach the CBD • high degree of separation between the CBD 

and surrounding neighborhoods.• shortage of public open space• shortage of welcoming, non-commercial

activities.• contributioncreate a “design union” to tackle these problems develop a radically different vision for the future. Space Syntax contributed both visionary design thinkingobjective urban evaluation techniques to the 

design union.      

 Integrated mix of urban activities

• The outcomeA set of core planning principles were developed to 

guide further design development. The design principles were then brought together into 

a spatial layout that was tested and developed using Space Syntax’s urban modeling technology

• The overall visioncreate a new, low carbon environment that offers a 

place for human interaction create a stage for cultural celebration. Every building within this vision has been designed to 

be a power stationgenerating energy controlling emissions. The master plan includes sustainable transportpedestrian movementcyclists public transport usage are encouraged by connecting 

key routes for different transport modes at every scale.

  Low carbon spatial layout

Energy Tower

Thank you