Space Syntax

The theme of economic and social inequality has been, and still is, one of the key topics in archaeological research. Disparities are a pervasive phenomenon of stratified societies. Their investigation contributes to a better understanding of cultures in periods of increasing complexity, such as the Late Bronze Age of Cyprus. This thesis has two related aims. The first objective is to assess wealth disparity within Late Cypriot settlement contexts through the case study of Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios. The second one is to reflect critically on the settlement dynamics and complexity of Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios and of other main LC centres. To study wealth disparity archaeologically, spatial analysis is employed as the central methodological approach. The consolidated datasets consist of the architectural components and their material artefacts. Based on these elements, the accumulation of resources, the access and control of resources, and the limitation and control of actions and behaviours can be indicated. The spatial distribution of these characteristics, alongside settlement coordination and accessibility, are utilised to map out the economic, social, and political differentiations, projecting the levels of inequality and their location within Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios. The case study is then placed on a wider Late Cypriot context through comparison with other major sites of the period, showcasing human relations with each other and with their surrounding built environment in a settlement context. This research studies the agents responsible for modifying urban environments and their authorities. Moreover, it ponders the role that urban layout played in constructing social dynamics and curating social realities. Overall, it analyses curated settlement biographies on the microscale at Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios in conjunction with the broader LC macroscale. The thesis deviates from traditional perceptions of hierarchies as being grided and linear phenomena. Rather, it proposes an alternative, more fluid approach towards social complexities and settlement dynamics in the context of Late Bronze Age Cyprus.

This Scoping Review (ScR) synthesizes advances in architectural eye-tracking (ET) research published between 2010 and 2024. Drawing on 75 peer-reviewed studies that met clear inclusion criteria, it monitors the field's rapid expansion, from only 20 experiments before 2018, to more than 45 new investigations in the three years thereafter, situating these developments within the longer historical evolution of ET hardware and analytical paradigms. The review maps 13 recurrent areas of application, focusing on design evaluation, wayfinding and spatial navigation, end-user experience, and architectural education. Across these domains, ET reliably reveals where occupants focus, for how long, and in what sequence, providing objective evidence that complements designer intuition and conventional post-occupancy surveys. Experts and novices might display distinct gaze signatures; for example, architects spend longer fixating on contextual and structural cues, whereas lay users dwell on decorative details, highlighting possible pedagogical opportunities. Despite these benefits, persistent challenges include data loss in dynamic or outdoor settings, calibration drift, single-user hardware constraints, and the need to triangulate gaze metrics with cognitive or affective measures. Future research directions emphasize integrating ET with virtual or augmented reality (VR) (AR) to validate design interactively, improving mobile tracking accuracy, and establishing shared datasets to enable replication and meta-analysis. Overall, the study demonstrates that ET is maturing into an indispensable, evidence-based lens for creating more intuitive, legible, and human-centered architecture.

a soutenu en septembre 2019 une thèse en Psychologie cognitive et expérimentale sur le rôle du système haptique dans la cognition et les interactions humainmachine sous la direction des Prs. Denis Brouillet (Psychologie Cognitive, Epsylon) et Philippe Fraisse (Robotique, LIRMM), à Montpellier. Après un premier post-doctorat avec Anna Maria Borghi à l'université Sapienza (Rome) portant sur l'embodiment des concepts et les affordances, il est maintenant post-doctorant à l'université Montpellier dans le cadre du projet HUT (HUman at home projecT), cofinancé par le Fonds Européen de Développement Régional (FEDER) et la Région Occitanie. Dans le cadre de ce post-doctorat, accueilli au sein du LIFAM (Laboratoire Innovation Formes Architectures Milieux, ENSA de Montpellier), il étudie l'interaction des individus avec leur logement intelligent (Smart Building), avec Hassan Ait-Haddou, Laurent Viala et Vinicius Raducanu. Il est membre de ce laboratoire, ainsi que des laboratoires BALlab (Body, Action, Language Lab, Borghi Anna's Lab, Rome, Italie), et Epsylon (EA4556, Montpellier). Les dessins des environnements futurs dans lesquels l'être humain évoluera sont « l'instrument d'un contrôle exercé par l'architecte sur l'espace et les formes » 1 mais aussi d'un contrôle sur l'habiter, les déplacements des individus, et le sens donné à l'environnement. L'espace est une ressource primordiale pour l'être humain, tant dans son organisation personnelle que dans ses liens sociaux (Tversky, 2003). Si la co-construction entre l'être humain et son environnement , pousse à considérer la cognition comme liée à son environnement et à l'état corporel de l'individu (Wilson, 2002), la space syntax (Hillier et al., 1987) considère que les déplacements dans l'espace construit dépendraient essentiellement d'indices extrasomatiques évalués par des mesures allocentriques. Nous présentons ici cette approche en regard de théories incarnées et situées de la cognition, avant d'ouvrir l'analyse aux Smart Buildings et Smart Cities, dont les technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) offrent de nouvelles voies d'interaction sociale et de perception de l'espace qui renouvellent le cadre physique actuellement pris en compte, à notre connaissance, dans la space syntax.

A successful urban space has a wide range of subjective and objective components, and paying attention to physical indicators plays a decisive role in creating a "successful" place. One of its strategies is the development of pedestrian zones in cities. This research has been carried out in search of the answer to what factors can contribute to the success of pedestrianization projects and place development. This article deals with the comparative analysis of the pedestrianization project of two streets leading to the central square of Hamedan City before and after implementation to investigate the qualitative and quantitative components of the place. The research method combines qualitative and quantitative methods, and observations, interviews, and questionnaires are used to collect information, along with library and documentary studies. The research findings indicate that in this case study, unlike sociability, the three indicators of accessibility, uses and activities, comfort and mental image creation have not improved much. In addition to that, there is a strong relationship between interconnectedness and sociability. Furthermore, improving the quality of the place cannot be done

The challenge of determining the most appropriate method for spatial analysis has long captivated the attention of researchers. Many spatial studies rely solely on either quantitative or qualitative research methods and techniques, yielding insights that only scratch the surface of spatial characteristics. This research aims to conduct a comparative analysis of two spatial arrangement methods: one focusing on spatial structure and the other utilizing the "Project for Public Spaces" (PPS) approach, which emphasizes environmental quality through defined indicators such as sociability, accessibility, uses and activities, comfort, and image. Additionally, this study explores the feasibility of concurrently utilizing these methods to comprehensively assess the quality of the studied location. The rationale for selecting these methods includes their efficiency, widespread usage, and This paper is extracted from PhD dissertation of Seyed Mohammadmahdi Hosseinikia.

teléfono: 965 903 480 © los autores, 2013 © de la presente edición: universidad de alicante © ilustración de la cubierta: Fernanda Palmieri (artículo de elizabeth Fentress) iSBn: 978-84-9717-287-5 depósito legal: a 663-2013 editores científicos: Sonia Gutiérrez Lloret, ignasi Grau Mira Coordinadora técnica: Victoria amorós ruiz diseño de cubiertas: candela ink Composición: Marten Kwinkelenberg impresión y encuadernación: Kadmos reservados todos los derechos. Cualquier forma de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública o transformación de esta obra solo puede ser realizada con la autorización de sus titulares, salvo excepción prevista por la ley. diríjase a Cedro (Centro español de derechos reprográficos, www.cedro.org) si necesita fotocopiar o escanear algún fragmento de esta obra. este volumen ha sido realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación «Lectura arqueológica del uso social del espacio. análisis transversal de la protohistoria al Medioevo en el Mediterráneo occidental» (Har2009-11441) del Ministerio de Ciencia y tecnología, y su edición ha contado igualmente con financiación del Ministerio de economía y Competitividad (Har2011-15720-e), la Consellería de educación, Formación y empleo de la Generalitat Valenciana (aorG/2012/205) y la universidad de alicante.

A brief glance at the city view of Iranian historical cities shows valuable ancient textures, all of which were enjoying appropriate liveliness, mobility and hilarity no longer ago. Today, our urban worn out textures are abandoned due to different reasons. This is while, if the textures enjoy safe, appropriate and lively spaces, organized joy and healthy recreations compatible with the society's values will take place in them. Organizing cities and historical textures is of great importance for two reasons: one is respecting the elders' heritages and the other one is obviating limits caused by urban texture decay. Inattention to organizing and restoring worn out historical textures plans during several years have caused them to lose their liveliness, efficiency and former activity. Livability is one of the greatest urban planning ideas in the contemporary period. Livability creation among cities of developing countries is a concerning issue and paying less attention to the issue causes liveliness and livability cadence and texture decay, consequently. Hence, paying attention to life quality, conditions, equipment and the urban residents' needs are vital issues. Finally, infill solution is presented in the framework of renovation and improvement for promotion of quality and empowerment of historical and worn out urban textures along with influential factors of developing such textures.

Biskra is one of the Algerian cities that has undergone a very accelerated evolution through the different periods of its history. It is confronted with serious problems related to various dysfunctions in particular in its planned urban structure and in its social structure suffering from several social ills, whether in: housing spaces, equipment or urban public spaces. The latter present many anomalies depending on the consumption of space, identification, orientation and behavior. The objective of this work seeks to read and analyze the quality of permeability and legibility in urban public spaces in the neighborhood of El-Alia northeast Biskra, how the space affects the movement of pedestrians and therefore their behavior and to make a comparison between what exists in reality and what is proposed in the development plan of the neighborhood of El Alia northeast by the  Office of Studies and Achievements in Town Planning URBA in terms of these two concepts, in order to affirm or d...

This thesis analyses Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Northern Thailand through historical texts, inscriptions, art, architecture, and living practices. It argues that Buddhist devotees engage with site to both generate merit through ritual and material acts, and to dedicate this merit to others, thereby sustaining the Dhamma and aspiring toward nirvana.

The perception of space plays a vital role in architectural design by shaping functional and sustainable environments centered on user experience. Integrating user feedback on spatial perception and interaction has become essential for creating responsive, usercentered design solutions (Sterk, 2006). Spatial perception arises from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their environment, involving observation, evaluation, and interpretation through various physical cues (Wei et al., 2021). This study investigates how architects and non-architects differ in perceiving space by analyzing their visual attention and interpretive processes. Images used in the study were selected based on the presence of architectural elements, greenery, and color. Employing a mixedmethods approach, the study combines quantitative eye-tracking data with qualitative verbalizations to offer a nuanced understanding of spatial perception. To address the limitations of conventional eye-tracking-which lacks contextual interpretation-this research examines the link between visual attention and cognitive perception. The study was conducted in controlled settings using targeted visual stimuli to objectively assess participants' gaze patterns and cognitive responses. Findings reveal that architects tend to identify design intentions, while non-architects focus more on natural elements and sensory impressions, influenced by personal spatial experiences. Differences may stem from the absence of a design task during perception.

Increasing urbanization has led to uncontrolled growth along the periphery of urban areas, particularly in developing countries. This has led to the formation of suburban areas around the metropolis, which are characterized by low-density neighborhood with the places of activities like education, work etc. usually far off from one another. Walking is the predominant mode of transport across the world, but the facilities for pedestrians, while planning and implementation, are usually overlooked. Hitherto, ample amount of literature has been found to be centric to the pedestrian analysis in core city under different purviews, but only some studies highlighting pedestrian inequity in suburban diorama. To highlight these pedestrian issues, a study was conducted in Kajlikheda, a suburb area of Bhopal, which is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, a central state of India. The paper highlights the pedestrian equity concern through Space Syntax Walkability (SSW). SSW of street integration a...

Visibility in architectural layouts affects human navigation, so a suitable representation of visibility context is useful in understanding human activity. Motivated by studies of spatial behavior, we use a set of features from visibility analysis to represent spatial context in the interpretation of human activity. An agent's goal, belief about the world, trajectory and visible layout are considered to be random variables that evolve with time during the agent's movement, and are modeled in a Bayesian framework. We design a search-based task in a sprite-world, and compare the results of our framework to those of human subject experiments. Our findings confirm that knowledge of spatial layout improves human interpretations of the trajectories (implying that visibility context is useful in this task). Since our framework demonstrates performance close to that of human subjects with knowledge of spatial layout, our findings confirm that our model makes adequate use of visibility context. In addition, the representation we use for visibility context allows our model to generalize well when presented with new scenes.

Current research explorations aims to examine the parameters that have a role in achieving privacy using space arrangement and secondly the dwelling unit apparently look same but genotypically it is not same so this paper aim to analyze the internal analysis of internal space of both traditional and modern houses with the help justified access graph. The extent to which a house layout pattern determines privacy is determined following a morphological analysis of a sample of house layouts. Based on the findings, traditional house layouts are asymmetrical compared to modern house layouts and therefore offer better design solutions in regard to privacy.

The paper discusses the geographical factors and the historical geography of western India and proliferation of the Buddhist caves in the early centuries of Christian era where the Buddhist monastic establishments in the area negotiated the sustaining factors like water conservation and how monsoon showers forced them to adopt certain architectural format in the excavation of the Buddhist caves and how there was strategic shifts of Buddhist excavation activities only in the region of Mulaka and Aparanta by discussing briefly the developments in historical regions of Mulaka and impacts from neighboring Vidarbha, which played an important role along with dynamics of patronage and politics of preference at certain site in the later Mahāyāna developments.

Understanding the developmental and occupational histories of Ancestral Maya settlements is crucial for interpreting their roles in broader social, political, and economic dynamics. This article presents 62 new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14 C dates from residential groups in the outlying settlement zone at Alabama, a major inland Ancestral Maya center in East-Central Belize. Alabama is a rare example of a "boomtown" in the Maya lowlands, experiencing rapid development primarily during the 8th and 9th century CE, corresponding to the Late to Terminal Classic periods. Using Bayesian stratigraphic sequence models, we construct detailed developmental and occupational histories for the townsite, clarifying the timing of its development, occupation, and abandonment. Our analysis reveals complex residential histories, confirming a rapid tempo of Late and Terminal Classic settlement growth and indicating continuities in occupation into the 10th century CE and beyond. Furthermore, we identify two separate periods of occupation during the Early Classic (cal AD 345-545) and the Late Postclassic (cal AD 1325-1475), demonstrating that parts of the settlement were inhabited at different intervals over many centuries. These results offer the first detailed deep-history perspective for the East-Central Belize region, establishing a framework that addresses challenges in chronology-building posed by poor pottery preservation and the complexities of earthen-core architecture at the site and enabling future chronological modeling in this lesser-known frontier of the eastern Maya lowlands.

to compare performances between two models: (1) configurational, based on the Theory of the Social Logic of Space, by means of axial and segment maps, and (2) SATURN -Simulation and Assignment of Traffic to Urban Road Networks -a traditional model used in transport studies. Both techniques are hereby applied to forecast vehicular flows (cars and buses) in accordance with their specific parameters, intending to assess the validity of the tools faced with the real flow obtained for the area. Methodological procedures considered the analysis of the campus grid network according to both configurational and transport strategies. The SATURN simulation was considered in its macroscopic level (the whole network is investigated, while details such as number and length of lanes are disregarded) in order to allow for a proper comparison with the configurational model. Space Syntax, on the other hand, required the linear representation map to be drawn including the surroundings of the campus at different metric and topological radii, so as to avoid border effect. Finally, integration values from space syntax axial and segment maps and predicted counting from the transport model (traffic assignment features) were then correlated with real vehicular counting. Results have demonstrated that the configurational model is useful in identifying general trends for concentrations of flows (for both local and global radii), especially supporting simulations of future projects for new roads to be added to the present day local urban grid. The high correlation levels identified between space syntax and real counting confirmed the technique is a powerful tool to aid urban and planning design. On the other hand, SATURN findings were more precise at a local scale, especially on account of output values being in number of vehicles, allowing proper actions concerning traffic congestion, the proposal of new routes for cars or buses, the creation of binary systems, etc. Therefore, models are to be used in a complementary way, where results are more refined when investigated under both approaches. Findings have demonstrated the necessity of a joint use of configurational and transport tools for urban planning,

Urban waterbodies play a vital role in enhancing ecological sustainability, social interaction, and neighbourhood liveability, yet in rapidly urbanising contexts such as Dhaka, they are increasingly threatened by encroachment, pollution, and reduced accessibility. This study investigates the accessibility and spatial integration of two significant urban waterbodies (Dholaikhal Narinda Pond and Shahjahanpur Jheel) under the Dhaka City Neighbourhood Upgrading Project (DCNUP), which seeks to revitalise public open spaces for disadvantaged communities. Using Space Syntax analysis, the research assesses spatial configuration through measures of Connectivity (CN), Global Integration (Rn), and Local Integration (R4) to evaluate accessibility at city and neighbourhood scales. Results indicate that Dholaikhal Narinda Pond demonstrates higher connectivity and global integration values, positioning it as a potential city-scale destination capable of enhancing urban inclusivity. By contrast, Shahjahanpur Jheel, though limited in city-wide accessibility, exhibits strong local integration, highlighting its potential as a neighbourhood-scale public space. These findings underscore the importance of aligning spatial analysis with urban design strategies to enhance accessibility and maximise social benefits. The study concludes that integrating syntactic measures into early project planning can help policymakers and urban designers anticipate patterns of use and achieve more equitable and sustainable revitalisation of public waterbodies in Dhaka.

Effective evacuation planning is essential for ensuring public safety in emergency situations. This study examines evacuation performance in Vietnamese buildings by analyzing three key factors: exit dimension discrepancies, escape velocity variations across age groups, and evacuation flow dynamics using simulation models. The research compares real-world exit dimensions across multiple building types, including schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and office buildings, revealing significant deviations of up to 434% between building types and 200% from national standards. These inconsistencies highlight the need for design modifications to improve evacuation efficiency. The study further investigates escape velocity through experimental evacuation drills using the Caynax Sports Tracker application, demonstrating that the 18-60 age group has the highest evacuation speed, while other age groups exhibit reductions ranging from 14.6% to 38%. These findings emphasize the influence of age-related mobility constraints on evacuation efficiency and the necessity of priority-based evacuation strategies for vulnerable populations. To better understand evacuation dynamics, the study employs Viswalk simulation models to analyze the relationship between density, evacuation flow, and movement speed. Results indicate age-dependent evacuation capacities, with peak flow rates of 5,400 persons/hour (ages 11-18), 4,000 persons/hour (ages 18-60 and 6-11), 2,500 persons/hour (ages 60-70), and 2,000 persons/hour (ages above 70). The simulation also identifies a critical congestion threshold, beyond which further increases in evacuation flow result in reduced movement efficiency. The study concludes that optimizing evacuation infrastructure, designing age-sensitive evacuation plans, and implementing flow control mechanisms are critical for enhancing emergency preparedness. It recommends aligning exit dimensions with actual usage, implementing assisted evacuation protocols for high-risk groups, and integrating real-time monitoring systems to regulate evacuation flow. While this research provides key insights into evacuation efficiency, future studies should further explore behavioral responses, psychological factors, and real-time decision-making during evacuations to develop more comprehensive emergency management strategies.

Urban green spaces are vital to the health, equity, and resilience of cities, offering multiple benefits for well-being, climate adaptation, and social
cohesion. In Nicosia, Cyprus, where green infrastructure accounts for
just 21% of the city’s area, there is considerable potential to enhance the
accessibility, distribution, and proximity of public green spaces and their
amenities to better serve all residents. This Policy Brief, developed through
the TWIN2EXPAND project, draws on spatial analysis and stakeholder
engagement to examine the Pedieos Linear Park as a case study, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of current green space planning in Cyprus.

The 14 km-long Pedieos Linear Park, which extends across three municipalities in Nicosia, currently reaches around 19% of the city’s population within a 15-minute walking radius. Yet, large high-density neighbourhoods around it remain underserved. A new Strategic Masterplan for the park introduces promising upgrades, such as additional entrances, improved connections, and expanded facilities, but leads to only modest improvements in overall accessibility. Furthermore, disparities persist in the distribution of on-site amenities and their proximity to surrounding communities. This significant urban green infrastructure holds great potential to improve urban health and resilience, yet remains underutilised, even with the planned enhancements.

To fully unlock the potential of urban green spaces in Cyprus, targeted policy action is needed. This brief proposes a strategy built on four key principles: Proximity (ensuring walkable access and equitable amenity distribution), Diversity (providing a range of functions and amenities), Connectivity (linking green areas through mobility networks), and Stakeholder Engagement (involving communities in planning, design and assessment of proposed developments).

This brief is intended to support policymakers, local authorities, and urban
planners in making strategic, evidence-based decisions to ensure that green space access in Cyprus becomes truly equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all.

Background The urban built environment (BE) has been globally acknowledged as one of the main factors that affects the spread of infectious disease. However, the effect of the street network on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence has been insufficiently studied. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19, is far more transmissible than previous respiratory viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which highlights the role of the spatial configuration of street network in COVID-19 spread, as it is where humans have contact with each other, especially in high-density areas. To fill this research gap, this study utilized space syntax theory and investigated the effect of the urban BE on the spatial diffusion of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. Method This study collected a comprehensive dataset including a total of 3815 confirmed cases and corresponding locations from January 18 to October 5, 2020. Based on the space syntax theor...

This paper investigates the integration of Architectural Design Optimization (ADO) into architectural design to improve shopping mall layouts. It aims to address the research gap by developing a comprehensive framework for optimizing spatial legibility in shopping mall layouts. The methodology employed a multi-method approach, combining qualitative (researcher's checklist) and quantitative (genetic algorithm, GA) methods in data processing and statistical analysis. Seven shopping malls in Erbil City with different spatial layout typologies served as case studies. Results demonstrated significant improvements in spatial legibility through GA-optimized layouts, resulting in a substantial reduction in occlusivity, an increased visibility area, shorter path lengths, and reduced navigation times. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between visibility and navigation efficiency, and that functional aspects of layouts contribute more significantly to spatial legibility than intangible design elements. Surprisingly, linear layouts, rather than hybrid layouts, appeared more effective in accommodating diverse user preferences. The study concluded that the use of GA provides an effective, data-driven approach to improving architectural designs, going beyond traditional qualitative judgments. The novelty of this approach lies in its pioneering application as a systematic optimization technique for the spatial planning of shopping malls, providing quantitative improvements to design elements such as spatial visibility and wayfinding, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a reevaluation of urban dynamics worldwide, impacting economic, social,  and daily life aspects. This shift, coupled with the imperative to combat climate change, has led to a reconsideration of modern city functioning. The polycentric city model emerges as a solution, integrating technological advancements to create user-centric, environmentally friendly urban spaces. Research demonstrates the feasibility of this model, emphasizing its economic, environmental, and social benefits. Greek cities, with their manageable scale and existing neighborhood structures, are particularly suited for this transition, offering a favorable cost - benefit ratio. Case studies aim to validate the effectiveness of the polycentric model in Greece, reinforcing its potential for sustainable urban development. This paper evaluates the prospects of the polycentric operational model for the city of Ilioupolis in Athens, Greece.

The impact of shade on pedestrian travel activity is examined through observation of a large sample of sidewalk users at a variety of urban sites under hot and sunny conditions. Extensive data collection in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, included micrometeorological measurements alongside pedestrian counts, using high-frequency imaging at 34 sites during summer daytime hours. A sample of individuals (n = 5263) identified approximately 60% as being in the shade. The actual availability of shaded space was found to be a consequential factor, as the relative quantity of shaded space correlated strongly and directly with the percentage of people using it. Thus, at sites in which the areas of shaded and unshaded space were relatively equal in quantity and functionality, the proportion of pedestrians travelling in the shade increased to over 70%. Additionally, the intensity of solar exposure-calculated as the total incidence of direct and indirect solar radiation on the body of a standing person at the time of observation-was shown to have a strong correlation with the percentage of pedestrians travelling in the shade. These findings substantiate the imperative for generous shade provision in thermally stressful pedestrian environments.

This work advances previous research into the application of spectral analysis to urban morphology in two ways. First, it refines cluster selection process and second, it utilizes weighted aggregation of cluster boundaries to more subtly reflect the porosity of neighborhood borders and the multi-scalar formations that characterize urban space, rather than searching for a single optimal solution.

The primary case study is that of Beirut, a city fragmented not only by a history of sectarian conflict but equally by piecemeal development and lack of a clear planning directive. The contradictions and multiplicity of the city’s contrasting regions provides a robust, compelling, and challenging object of study.

Finally, the paper concludes with comparisons between the outcomes calculated and previous studies that approached the definition of neighborhood boundaries and connections empirically from the perspective of bottom-up resident accounts and computationally with regard to pedestrian traffic and walkability

Sociologists claim that the ethnic Chinese community in the United Kingdom cannot be spatially defined. The first reason is that the widely scattered Chinese catering businesses-still the main source of employment for incoming Chinese migrants - makes the Chinese community ...

This research study has been designed to understand the ways in which people appropriate branded spaces and embodied a brand’s organisational identity. The main aim was to investigate the micro-dynamics of social behaviours in three customers’ clubs of a UK retail organisation and bring to the fore their interrelation with customers’ perception about the company. Result suggest that all three clubs illustrated different patterns of usage that proved to be relevant with the way facilities are distributed, with customers’ demographics and customers’ dwell times. Simultaneously, the study by analysing the influence of directness and attractors on seat preferences achieved to substantiate the role of attractors in determining occupancy patterns and highlighted some insights that connectivity (locally being seen) appears to drive occupancy levels, to some degree, but only if no attractors are present. Additionally, the distances between various pieces of furniture, the combination of individual pieces of furniture with more collective arrangements, the existence of attractors such as TV and the percentage of visibility towards main circulation routes were highlighted by the analysis as possible conditions that facilitate social interaction and can meet Osmond’s expectations of a ‘sociopetal’ arrangement. On this basis, the study has revealed a hybrid building type, which is considered neither as a retail space nor as a coffee shop, but in essence it does act as a live advertisement and becomes the live profile of the company in the real world. The study by relating observed patterns with customers’ qualitative feedback suggested that the spatial configuration and the activities generated in the customers’ clubs shape, to a certain extent, not only customers’ behaviours, but also customers’ perception about the company. It was also argued that the observed behavioural patterns can constitute reference points for future customers’ clubs design with regards to the strategic distribution of facilities, attractors positioning, furniture allocation, the potential provided by the layout in relation to movement flows as well as customers’ seat preferences.

Existing scholarly work in the field of space syntax research has highlighted the potentials of incorporating Bernstein’s (1973) dimensions of classification and framing for investigating the interplay between physical spaces and pedagogical practices. They have translated Bernsteinian concepts in various syntactical terms in order to identify whether a school configuration can create the potentials for certain educational codes and then result in a certain school’s community. However, they often incorporate different theoretical reasoning and thus different syntactical measures. Simultaneously, the translation of the Bernsteinian concepts to space is rendered as rather stable in time and by often incorporating one syntactical metric per dimension.  Therefore, this study aims at providing a more holistic methodological approach to the translation of Bernsteinian concepts in syntactical terms. Simultaneously having in mind, the complexity of school environments, this study aims at offering a more temporal approach to this investigation. Hence, to achieve the above objectives, this study jointly considers: Bernstein’s account, existing research studies that have attempted to translate his theoretical account into space and lastly assemblage theory (Deleuze & Gattarin, 1987) that underscores the necessity for a more relational consideration of space. Thus, the main research question of this paper is to what extent school environment can be approached as an assemblage of various socio-educational codes that are constantly formed producing forms of solidarity?  as well as to what extent school's educational code can be shifted by means of social agency and rules application?  Ten open-air secondary schools built in Cyprus after 2000 serve as case studies. The methodology implemented for this study combines a consistent analysis of syntactical, functional, and morphological properties for all ten schools of the sample with behavioural data that are retrieved by onsite observation of space usage from two schools of the sample. The contribution of this study is twofold: Firstly, it builds on existing scholarly work in the field of space syntax and provides a holistic and dynamic framework for the syntactical translation of the Bernstein’s concepts to space. Secondly, conceptually this paper highlights the role of agency

Traditional approaches to understanding built form & building typology tend to consider "space mainly as a shell or container, focusing on its morphological structures and functional uses" (Tornaghi & Knierbein, 2015, p.xv). Such consideration, however, ignores the complexity of physical form since it considers space as a container of action and a mere homogenous system. Thus, a more relational approach to space which embraces the embeddedness of various actions in the formal composition is required. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine one of the most important ordinary building types in the urban landscape-school building-through a more relational approach to the consideration of urban form and built morphology. In that sense, this paper aims at addressing the extent to which school building type can be approached as highly relational system which is composed by both physical (i.e. dimensions, shape and size of the plot , functional composition etc) and with nonphysical elements (i.e agency, processes, social rules etc) in a constant process of making. A selected school building built in Cyprus after 2000 will serve as case study. The case study is used so as to test in a certain building type the conceptual and methodological framework proposed so as to grasp the relationality of built form. The methodology implemented for this study examines spatial and social processes through formal, typological, spatial and functional analysis of the school unit combined with data from on-site observations of space usage. The analysis of the school building is extended over scales and explores: school formal composition and social agency, school's plot and adjacent street network, school plot and the overall school spatial, formal and functional composition, social agency within school and space usage behaviours. The contribution of this study is the introduction of a consistent way of approaching architectural urban morphology & building typology through a multi-layered and non-hierarchical multi-scale methodological approach that offers a starting point for incorporating a framework of analysis able to capture complex socio-spatial relations and the role of agency in urban form emergence.

Over the last centuries, the physical form of educational buildings evolved rather poorly. It was only in the closing of the 20th century that we saw remarkable deviations from the school type that has been established since the year dot. At the same time, current conceptions about knowledge and education point towards a reformed understanding of learning and teaching process, while posing fundamental questions in relation to the ability of schools’ architectural morphology to cope with current dynamic educational processes.

Therefore, this paper aims at addressing the complexity of school’s physical form by discovering certain structuring principals along with fundamental actors, processes and conceptions shaping its formal syntax with the main question being: to what extent recent secondary school buildings in Cyprus share common morphological patterns? as well as to what extent can socio-spatial relations be captured by means of configurational analysis and space usage behaviours?

Specifically, this study examines whether there are common morphological patterns as a by-product of the shared guidelines provided, the shared beliefs about education as well as the shared location of intervention (Cyprus as a Mediterranean island). At the same time, through an in-depth case study provides a possible methodological framework in order to broaden our methodological toolkit for approaching and understanding space as a rather relational structure, which is characterised by multiple socio-spatial dynamics.

All secondary schools built in Cyprus after 2000 will serve as case studies. The methodology implemented for this study combines formal and typological approaches with spatial analysis by means of space syntax analytical tools with on-site observations of space usage.

The finding of this research highlight the main formal elements of secondary schools buildings built in Cyprus after 2000 by different architects under the same educational philosophy. The contribution of this study lays on the introduction of a consistent way of approaching architectural morphology through a multi-layered methodological approach that combines analytical tools of space syntax with typological approaches, while it highlights the role of agency in morphological studies. Overall, the paper offers a starting point for incorporating a framework of analysis able to capture complex socio-spatial relations.

This research is concerned with the interplay between the school environment and school practices. At its core, it seeks to understand and analyse school environments and to identify the role of spatial layout and agency in socio-educational practices, with the main research questions being: How do the spatial layout and agency of lower secondary school buildings built in Cyprus after 2000 impact the socio-educational school life? And to what extent do lower secondary school buildings constructed in Cyprus after 2000 illustrate spatial, functional, and morphological consistencies?
The ten(10) most recent lower secondary schools in Cyprus are selected as case studies. The selection stems from the fact that open-air secondary schools are remarkably under-investigated in the existing scholarly work. At the same time, Cyprus is selected as the appropriate context of study since there is an overall lack of research exploring the relationship between school environment and school practices.  The methodology of this study combines a cross-case comparative approach (top-down) that examines all ten (10) schools of the sample with an in-depth approach (bottom-up) that inspects two (2) schools of the sample so as to achieve a more holistic understanding of space usage patterns and social agency in schools.
Results show that genotypical patterns can be found among schools due to the design guidelines given by the authorities. In that sense, the role of agency in school buildings through the guidelines issued and social actions is revealed. In addition, the empirical validation of the framework proposed by Bernstein's and used by various scholars in architectural research suggests that this model can be used to map the relationship between school buildings, pedagogical practices, and school community. Lastly, this thesis presents various spatial factors influencing users' perceptions of their school and space usage patterns.  Results point to the importance of the school's density on the ground, school's porosity, school's configuration, school's overall integration, school's fragmentation, classrooms' axial centrality, and classrooms' visual mean depth.
This research's innovative aspect lies in combining different theoretical and methodological approaches through a holistic framework by articulating a crosswalk between research depths and data types. At the same time, it contributes to the current lack of knowledge about open-air schools and through an evidence-based approach, it provides a critical evaluation of the existing design guidelines for the design of lower secondary school buildings in Cyprus.

Despite rapid urbanization, Old Guangzhou’s traditional urban elements and patterns are evident in an intricate network of waterways, lanes and streets. This essay looks at the formal and behavioural aspects of two such elements: Qilou – arcaded streets lined with shop-houses, and Hong – intimate lanes that serve as circulation paths and community spaces.

Using Georgia Department of Transportation Average Annual Daily Traffic Counts for 13 counties in the Atlanta Metropolitan Region, we draw a distinction between streets where traffic is influenced by configurational and density variables and streets where traffic is influenced by street width and distance from center. Our findings suggest the need for a more explicit configurational theory of urban hierarchy than we currently have.

In this paper we report an analysis of 118 urban areas sampled from the 12 largest metropolitan regions in the US. We deal with familiar measures of block size, street density, intersection density and distance between intersections. We also introduce two new variables, Reach and Directional Distance. Reach is the aggregate street length that can be accessed from the midpoint of each road segment subject to a limitation of distance. Directional distance is the average number of direction changes needed in order to ...

Measures of street configuration are correlated to measures of population, development and parcel densities for a sample of 25 urban areas in the Atlanta metropolis. This constitutes a contribution to modeling the co-variation of different aspects of the spatial structure of cities. The results also provide a foundation for discussing the appropriate ways for defining urban density from the point of view of designing cities.

Urban morphology critically governs residential energy demand, yet empirical evidence from semi-arid, geopolitically constrained cities remains scarce. This study quantifies the influence of neighbourhood form on heating and cooling loads in Hebron, Palestine. Three morphologically distinct districts-Old City (compact), Zeitoun (semi-structured) and Al Sheikh (unplanned sprawl)-were mapped in ArcGIS Pro to derive Floor Space Index, Ground Space Index and Open Space Ratio. Prototype mid-rise dwellings were modelled in DesignBuilder and simulated with EnergyPlus under identical boundary conditions. Pearson correlations and ANOVA assessed relationships between morphological variables and annual loads. Results show cooling demand decreases by 34 % as FSI rises from 0.7 to 1.2, whereas heating demand doubles under the same densification. The moderately dense Zeitoun configuration (FSI≈1.0, OSR≈1.6) achieved the lowest combined energy use, outperforming both extreme forms. Findings demonstrate that mid-rise, medium-density layouts balance summer shading with winter solar access, offering a viable pathway for energy-aware expansion in semi-arid contexts. The integrated spatial-simulation framework provides planners with transferable metrics for zoning and retrofit prioritisation, supporting climate-responsive urban policy across the Middle East. Future research should incorporate behavioural patterns and multiple building typologies to refine these benchmarks under climate-change scenarios.

La Casa de la Exedra es una de las edificaciones más singulares del Castro de Elviña (A Coruña). Excavada por primera vez en 1947, su complejidad arquitectónica y la sucesión de paramentos, fases constructivas y contextos arqueológicos ha supuesto todo un quebradero de cabeza para la investigación. En el presente trabajo, se propone una nueva aproximación a este conjunto desde un análisis arqueológico y arquitectónico de su secuencia ocupacional. Partiendo de los datos obtenidos en una reciente campaña de excavación, que proporciona una secuencia estratigráfica fiable y varias dataciones radiocarbónicas, se realiza un estudio arquitectónico de las estructuras visibles a través de las relaciones de sus paramentos. Los datos obtenidos permiten revisar anteriores propuestas y establecer una nueva aproximación al yacimiento, relacionando las dinámicas constructivas de este sector con el contexto general de la ocupación del castro y de la región.

Cities are complex systems characterized by the interplay between self-organization and attempts of (incomplete) control from decision makers and planners. The kind of knowledge we can have of such systems and their future development is always approximative and uncertain. This puts in crisis the traditional approach of rational comprehensive urban planning, based on future state prediction and system control . Even more, in a context of accelerated socioeconomic and technological change, uncertainty pervades the very external environment in which the evolution of the city takes place. "Planning" the complex city in a changing complex world is one of the main challenges for the coming decades. For some authors, the task is simply impossible. In economics, already argued that we cannot achieve detailed, specific knowledge for complex social systems, but only knowledge in principle which is qualitative and refers to typical system behaviors. Taleb (2007) even suggests that this knowledge could be challenged by the occurrence of black swans, unpredictable disruptive events. Moroni (2015), as well as Alfasi and Portugali (2007) thus propose to renounce to patterning instruments (like land-use plans and urban projects) and to limit system control to framework instruments defining the rules of market-like interaction among self-organizing free agents. However, these authors overlook the fact that any system of rules acts as a filter on possible urban forms and injects assumptions on the kind of spatial patterns to be achieved. Moreover, as Moroni (2015) admits, public authorities will always be asked to supply the morphological infrastructure (streets, public space and facilities) for private self-organization, which begs the questions of what form this infrastructure should have and how to justify it. A different strain of literature argues for new approaches to urban planning, instead of renouncement to planning. Shared projects produced within urban strategic foresight are seen as a way to coordinate the actions of private and public actors (Loinger and Spohr 2005, Blecic et Cecchini 2016). Self-organization is not denied, but steered by a common vision. Uncertainty is not seen as a handicap that plans try to reduce, but as an unavoidable epistemic condition and even as a positive resource in scenario building. The question still remains, though, of the most suitable spatial organization of the physical elements of the city in the face of an uncertain future. If plan flexibility and possible

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Irem Erin¹, Alessandro Araldi², Giovanni Fusco2, Ebru Cubukcu1, ¹City and Regional Planning Department. Dokuz Eylul University.  Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi-Mimarlık Fakültesi Tınaztepe Kampüsü, Doğuş Caddesi No:209, 35160 Buca- IZMIR, Turkey ²Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, UMR ESPACE. 98 Bd Edouard Herriot, BP 3209 06204 NICE cedex 3, France E-mail: irem.erin@deu.edu.tr, alessandro.araldi@unice.fr, giovanni.fusco@unice.fr, ebru.cubukcu@deu.edu.trTelephone number: +905363341475 Keywords (3-5): Morphological analysis, quantitative methods, urban design, environmental psychology Urban morphology investigates “how cities are built and why, how cities should be built, what should be built and what has actually been built?” (Moudon 1997). Together with the qualitative analysis, the founding fathers of urban morphology also proposed quantitative measures of urban fabrics. Allain's methodological work (2004) presents an overview of these quantitative analyses of topological, dimensional an...

Retail activity presence in urban space is of paramount importance when considering the vivacity, livability and walkability of streets and neighborhoods . Urban designers, planners and geographers highlight how some urban morphological characteristics might define those urban spaces where higher retail densities are detected. Space Syntax and Multiple Centrality Assessment (MCA, Porta et al 2008) are two well-known approaches for studying the configuration of street networks, which have been used for this purpose. Based on the hypothesis of natural movement, these methods propose advanced calculations of proximity, accessibility and centrality-based measures, at the intra-urban level. Studies where these techniques were implemented showed how retail distribution may also be explained by network configurational properties. Nevertheless, these studies only focus on one aspect of the urban environment (i.e., the configuration of the street network). It might well be, though, that also the urban fabric could be closely related to the location of retail and economic activities. The configuration of the street network and the urban fabric might thus represent two complementary aspects. To some extent, previous empirical works considered both aspects as they focused on areas with a continuous urban form. For example, Omer and Goldblatt (2015), highlighted how traditional studies examined urban networks "mainly in cities characterized by either a deformed grid-like street pattern or by a planned perfect grid". The same authors studied how the presence of retail and configurational properties varied across neighborhoods which had undergone different processes of urban growths (i.e., planned vs self-organized). Svetsuk (2012) focused his analysis on "dense urban environments", where the characteristics of the urban fabric could be considered homogenous.