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Space syntax

The term space syntax encompasses a set of theories and techniques for the analysis of spatial configurations of all kinds, especially where spatial configuration seems to be a significant aspect of human affairs, as it is in buildings and cities. Originally conceived by Professor Bill Hillier, Julienne Hanson and their colleagues at The Bartlett http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk , University College London in the late 1970s to early 1980s as a tool to help architects simulate the likely effects of their designs. It has since grown to become a tool used around the world in a variety of research and areas and design applications. A variety of software, used to perform space syntax analysis, was primarily written by Nick "Sheep" Dalton and is currently in use in more than 50 countries around the world. Space syntax has been extensively applied in the fields of architecture, urban design, planning, transportation and interior design. Over the past decade, space syntax techniques have also been used for research in fields as diverse as archaeology, information technology, urban and human geography, and anthropology. Since 1997, the space syntax community has held a series of biennial conferences, and many journal papers have been published on subject, chiefly in Environment and Planning B http://www.envplan.com . However, space syntax's reliability has recently come under scrutiny because of a number of paradoxes that arise under certain geometric configurations. These paradoxes have been highlighted by Carlo Ratti at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a passionate academic exchange with Professors Bill Hiller and Alan Penn.

References

  • Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984). The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521367840.
  • Hillier, B. and Penn, A. (2004). Rejoinder to Carlo Ratti. Environment and Planning B - Planning and Design 31 (4), 487–499.
  • Ratti, C. (2004). Space syntax: some inconsistencies. Environment and Planning B - Planning and Design 31(4), 501–511.

External links

  • For more information, visit: http://www.spacesyntax.org/
Last updated: 02-07-2005 03:10:45
Last updated: 02-28-2005 02:16:10