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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
Understanding the usage of space syntax
analysis in architecture
Shafiq Ahmad bin Anuar Ahmad, Dr. Sharifah Salwa Syed Mahdzar
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Abstract
Space syntax is a tool used to identify and assess spatial configuration in a theoretical and
mathematical ways which is based on the approach that emphasizes on the importance of spatial
connectivity and translates it via computational and visual tools to analyze the spatial layout of built
environment. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance and efficiency of the spatial
configuration of a proposed architectural project by applying space syntax analysis into the calculation
while at the same time understanding the process and contribution that space syntax can offer in the
architectural field with the research question being the connectivity potential and integration value of
the proposed site movements flow and accessibility of the proposed building within the site context and
the spatial connection and efficiency of the proposed building. The method used to run the research is
by utilizing the DepthMap software which is a space syntax analysis tools and the analysis is divided
into three different analyses: axial map analysis, VGA analysis for the site and the building space. The
results obtained from all three space syntax analyses show that the site location which is adjacent to
Jalan Tandok is very good in terms of connectivity and allowing people to discover the areas without
much effort in the first place. The building is very permeable and easy to maneuver due to the open
floor plan approach which is intended to ease the public's navigation without any need for extensive
wayfinding assistance. The proposed project can be considered as successful in the aspect of spatial
configuration and site planning in relation to the connectivity and visibility to the public visitors. Space
syntax method has been applied in numerous urban design and planning projects around the world,
and has been shown to be a useful tool for generating architectural design insights.
Keywords: space syntax; VGA analysis; museum; spatial configuration; connectivity
Space syntax is a theoretical and
methodological framework for the analysis of
spatial configurations and their impact on
human behavior, particularly in urban
environments. The approach was developed by
Bill Hillier and his colleagues at University
College London in the 1980s and has since
been applied in a wide range of fields, from
architecture
and
urban
planning
to
transportation and social science.
environments. This analysis is used to develop
insights into how spatial configuration affects
various aspects of human behavior, such as the
efficiency of transportation systems, the vitality
of public spaces, and the social and economic
dynamics of urban environments. By mapping
the accessibility and connectivity of different
locations within an urban system, space syntax
seeks to develop insights into how the spatial
configuration affects patterns of movement,
social interaction, and other aspects of human
behavior.
According to Hillier et al. (1987), the
approach emphasizes the importance of spatial
connectivity and uses computational and visual
tools to analyze the spatial layout of built
Batty (2001) and Penn (2003) stated that
the approach is based on the premise that
spatial layout has a significant impact on the
way that people use and navigate urban
1.0 Introduction
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
environments. By analyzing the configuration of
streets, buildings, and other spatial elements,
Space Syntax seeks to reveal the underlying
spatial logic of urban environments and to
develop insights into how they can be optimized
for different functions and user groups. Space
Syntax has made significant contributions to
architectural design by providing a framework
for understanding how spatial configuration
affects patterns of human behavior, such as
movement and social interaction. By analyzing
the spatial layout of buildings and their
relationship to the urban environment,
architects can use space syntax to optimize
building design and improve the performance of
buildings in terms of their functional and social
attributes (Xu & Lin, 2013).
2.0 Project background
2.1 Proposed site location
The proposed site is located at Jalan
Tandok, Bangsar as shown in Figure 2.1.1
which is in the vicinity of residential areas, a
service apartment called Nadi Bangsar and a
long-running publication establishment such as
New Straits Times Press and China Press
along the intersecting road named Jalan Riong
with a walking distance of approximately 10-15
minutes.
1.1 Aim and objectives
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the
performance and efficiency of the spatial
configuration of the proposed architectural
project by applying space syntax analysis into
the calculation while at the same time
understanding the process and contribution
that space syntax can offer in the architectural
field with the research question being the
connectivity potential and integration value of
the proposed site, movements flow and
accessibility of the proposed building within the
site context and the spatial connection and
efficiency of the proposed building.
To answer the research questions stated
earlier, the objective of this research is to:
i)
To evaluate the connectivity and
integration value of the proposed
project site in conjunction with the
urban fabric of Bangsar via axial
map analysis.
ii)
To analyze the movements flow
and accessibility of the proposed
building within the site context via
visibility graph analysis.
iii)
To analyze the spatial connection
and efficiency within the proposed
building
via
visibility
graph
analysis.
Fig. 2.1.1
Proposed site location at Jalan Tandok.
2.2 Proposed building and typology
The proposed typology for the project is a
printing museum with integrated public green
spaces as shown in Figure 2.2.2. The project is
aimed at improving the urban fabric by creating
new public realm for socio-spatial improvement
in an ecological manner while preserving
publication heritage. The project is responding
towards several identified urban and site issues
originated from Bangsar during the background
study which are the deterioration of cultural
identity, noninteraction between society and
urban fabric, increment of carbon footprint and
scarcity and underutilization of urban green
spaces. Museum as a typology is fitting as the
land use type for the proposed site is currently
stated as institutional and the location of the site
which is in the vicinity of a long-running
publication establishment along Jalan Riong.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
Fig. 2.2.2
Proposed printing museum.
The printing museum consists of 4 floor
levels where the spatial planning is simplified by
having every public space accessible on the
ground floor level (Figure 2.2.4), while the semi
public and private areas such as the exhibition
areas and staff office are created on the upper
level (Figure 2.2.5, Figure 2.2.6). The parking
spot for vehicles are all designated to be at the
basement floor level (Figure 2.2.7).
The approach on the spatial configuration
for the museum is to design it as an open floor
plan as a measure to increase the accessibility
of the public areas and to make the whole
establishment far more user friendly and
welcoming to the public visitors. Similar
approach is applied to the upper floor level
where the exhibition areas are so as to make
the experience and journey inside the exhibition
area more seamless and uninterrupted from the
beginning until the end. The museum is
integrated with the public green plaza as a
response towards the urban issues. To further
eliminate the issues of noninteraction between
society and urban fabric of Bangsar, the
human-centric approach is applied as shown in
Figure 2.2.3 below where all vehicular parking
spaces are all designated to be on the
basement level so as to increase the spaces
dedicated towards pedestrian instead of
vehicles which is a common practice nowadays
to improve the efficiency of the vehicle users.
Fig. 2.2.3
Site planning of the museum.
Fig. 2.2.4
Ground floor plan of the museum.
Fig. 2.2.5
First floor plan of the museum.
Fig. 2.2.6
Third floor plan of the museum.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
architect to conduct the spatial analysis within
the research preferences. Figure 3.1.1 below
shows the DepthMap software interface where
the user will be navigating across during the
spatial analysis.
Fig. 2.2.7
Basement floor plan of the museum.
Fig. 3.1.1
User interface of the DepthMap software.
3.0 Methodology
3.2 Analysis preferences
3.1 DepthMap as spatial analysis tool
Space syntax has developed a set of
computational tools for spatial analysis, where
the most widely used software is DepthMap.
DepthMap is a freely available software
package that provides an extensive set of tools
for analyzing and visualizing spatial networks.
The software was developed by Dr. Alasdair
Turner and Dr. Andy Hudson-Smith at
University College London's Space Syntax
Laboratory. It has been widely used in urban
studies, geography, and architecture to
understand the spatial structure of cities and
the role of spatial configuration in shaping
human behavior (Porta et al., 2018). Chen & Lin
(2017) stated DepthMap as a powerful tool for
spatial network analysis that allows users to
generate a range of spatial analysis outputs
from maps, including axial maps, segment
maps, and integration maps. The software also
allows users to perform complex analysis of
spatial
configuration,
including
spatial
accessibility analysis and spatial distribution
analysis.
DepthMap is chosen as tool for this
research and it is considered as an appropriate
method as it can calculate data related to
spatial configuration and performance and
providing answer towards the research
question stated previously. Since DepthMap
can analyze AutoCAD DXF file, it also provides
great accessibility and faster workflow for the
The research will be conducted via 3
different spatial analyses which respond
accordingly to the respective research
objectives stated previously on Chapter 1.1.
Analysis 1 is an axial map analysis of the
proposed project site on a macro scale to
evaluate the connectivity, integration value and
correlation between both values. Analysis 2 is a
VGA analysis which is conducted on the
proposed site as well to figure out the
movements flow and accessibility to the
proposed building within the site context.
Analysis 3 is also a VGA analysis but on a micro
scale which is conducted on the proposed
building space or the floor plans to analyze the
performance of the building’s spatial
configuration. Data obtained from all 3 analyses
will be further inferred to reach a conclusion on
the project’s spatial performance. Table 3.2.1
below is a summarization of the research
methodology.
Table 3.2.1
Summary of research methodology
Analysis
End results
Analysis 1
Axial map analysis
on proposed site
Connectivity
Integration value
Correlation data
Analysis 2
VGA analysis
on proposed site
Visibility analysis
Correlation data
Analysis 3
VGA analysis
on proposed building
Visibility analysis
Correlation data
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
4.0 Results and discussion
4.1 Axial map analysis of the site
Axial lines are the main lines of movement
and visibility in a given urban environment, and
their identification is a critical step in space
syntax analysis. The method involves
representing the street network as a graph,
where streets are represented as lines and
street intersections as nodes, and then
measuring the connectivity and integration of
the network. Axial lines have been found to be
strongly correlated with pedestrian movement
and to provide a measure of the spatial
accessibility of urban environments (Jiang et
al., 2014). To determine the most highly
integrated street in conjunction with other
streets in the vicinity of the proposed site, axial
map analysis is run via DepthMap software.
The lines constructed are influenced by the
street configuration and urban fabric of the area
itself. During the line construction, every axial
line should be connected with each other to
avoid disconnection between every line as it
can cause discrepancy during the space syntax
analysis. A completed axial map of the site
would be as shown below in Figure 4.1.1.
Fig. 4.1.1
The reason would be that those 2 streets are
the main streets which are supposed to be
connecting people from outside to the smaller
parts or districts of the area, especially Jalan
Maarof which are the main road leading to
Jalan Bangsar where people came from and to
the city center of Kuala Lumpur.
Fig. 4.1.2
Axial map of the proposed site with
connectivity parameter activated.
Further analysis of the axial map indicated
several streets which have higher integration
value compared to the other streets across
Bangsar which are Jalan Maarof and Jalan
Tandok as shown in Figure 4.1.3 below.
However, in the vicinity of the proposed site, the
streets identified with the highest integration
value are Jalan Maarof with a value of 1.043253
followed by Jalan Tandok with a value
0.767899.
Axial map of the proposed site in AutoCAD.
The analysis indicated Jalan Tandok and
Jalan Maarof as being highly connected in
conjunction to the other streets in the vicinity of
the proposed site with a connectivity value of 13
and 8 respectively as shown in Figure 4.1.2.
Fig. 4.1.3
Axial map of the proposed site with
integration value parameter activated.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
The result shows Jalan Maarof as the
street with the highest integration value which
is recorded at 1.043253 and due to its position
as being directly connected to Jalan Tandok, it
possesses a high potential to connect people to
the proposed site which proves that the
connectivity to the building uninterrupted.
4.2 VGA analysis of the site
VGA or visibility graph analysis is a
technique that measures the visual accessibility
of a street network. It involves creating a graph
of the urban environment in which the nodes
are the visible points and the edges represent
the lines of sight between them. It provides
insights into how the spatial arrangement of
buildings, streets, and open spaces affects the
visibility (Peponis et al., 2011). To predict the
movements flow of people and accessibility to
the site within the visibility context, VGA
analysis is used to provide us with suitable data
to work on. Figure-ground map of Bangsar is
created as shown in Figure 4.2.1 where the
surrounding buildings are indicated as solid
while the rest of it became void or empty spaces
where people could access and allow the line
of sight to penetrate through until it makes
contact with the closest solid or visual
obstructor which limits the visibility.
4.2.2. However, the red zones are starting to
fade out as it travels to the area where most
buildings are located which indicates that the
connectivity is lower there, possibly due to the
visibility being limited by the buildings itself. The
the area in front of the proposed site which is
Jalan Tandok also possesses a considerably
high connectivity value of 1313.00, compared to
the lowest connectivity value recorded which is
183.00. It can be inferred that the site has a
good visibility condition which ease people’s
movement to the proposed site.
Fig. 4.2.2
VGA analysis of the proposed site with
connectivity parameter activated.
Further analysis on the integration value of
the site context shows an almost similar
patterns with previous analysis with the highest
integration value of 8.846181 is recorded at
Jalan Bangsar. Focusing on the area of the
proposed site, the integration value is recorded
at 6.917756 which is quite close to the highest
value, suggesting that the accessibility level to
the proposed site is very good. It can be
inferred that the surrounding fabric of the
proposed site is very permeable as evidenced
by the VGA analysis on the visual integration
shown in Figure 4.2.3.
Fig. 4.2.1
Figure-ground map of Bangsar.
The analysis shows highest connectivity in
Jalan Bangsar with a value of 2213.00 where
most of the red zones are, as shown in Figure
Scatter plot of the data correlation
between the visual integration (HH) value and
the connectivity value (Figure 4.2.4) recorded
the R2 value as 0.742694 which indicates that
the area of the site is highly visible and less
effort is required to redirect public to the site.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
interior public spaces are also performing well
in terms of connectivity.
Fig. 4.2.3
Fig. 4.2.4
VGA analysis of the proposed site with
integration value parameter activated.
Scatter plot of correlation between visual
integration vs connectivity of the site.
4.3 VGA analysis on the building
Fig. 4.3.1
VGA analysis of the ground floor level with
connectivity parameter activated.
Further analysis on the integration value of
the building shows an almost similar patterns
with previous analysis with the highest
integration value of 9.652634 is recorded, also
at the exterior cafeteria area. Focusing on the
entrance and public plaza area, the integration
value is recorded at 8.144138 and 7.434249
respectively, suggesting that the accessibility
level to the building is very good. It can be
deduced that the spatial configuration of the
ground floor level is very permeable for the
movement of public visitors as evidenced by the
VGA analysis on the visual integration shown in
Figure 4.3.2.
4.3.1 Ground floor plan
To evaluate the effectiveness of the spatial
configuration of the building, VGA analysis is
used as the tool. According to the data
obtained, the connectivity value on the ground
floor plan is higher on the exterior part such as
the public plaza (1273.00) and the entrance
(1316.00) which is intended to make the
museum more welcoming to the public visitors.
The highest recorded connectivity value is
1629.00 which is located at the exterior
cafeteria area adjacent to the public plaza at the
center. While the lowest recorded connectivity
value is 7.00 which is the service area as they
should be hidden from the public view for safety
purposes. Judging by the overall view of the
VGA analysis as shown in Figure 4.3.1, the
Fig. 4.3.2
VGA analysis of the ground floor level with
integration value parameter activated.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
Scatter plot of the data correlation
between the visual integration (HH) value and
the connectivity value (Figure 4.3.3) recorded
the R2 value as 0.622986 which indicates that
the ground floor level is highly permeable and
less effort is required for the public to maneuver
across the building without getting lost.
Fig. 4.3.3
Further analysis on the integration value of
the building also shows similar patterns with
previous analysis with the highest integration
value of 9.166288 is recorded, also at the
exhibition area. The average recorded
integration value for the exhibition area is
recorded at 8.537107 which continues to
spread to the exterior public green spaces,
suggesting good movement flows of the
exhibition area. It can be deduced that the
spatial configuration of the first floor level is very
seamless for the experience of public visitors in
the exhibition area as shown in Figure 4.3.5.
Scatter plot of visual integration vs
connectivity of the ground floor level.
4.3.2 First floor plan
The connectivity value on the first floor
level is higher on the exhibition area where the
average recorded value is 720.00 which is
intended to make the movements flow in the
exhibition area more seamless. The highest
recorded connectivity value is 929.00 which is
also part of the exhibition area. While the lowest
recorded connectivity value is 9.00 which is the
toilet and service core as they should be hidden
from the public to provide better exhibition
experience. Overall view of the VGA analysis
on the first floor level (Figure 4.3.4) indicated
user friendly spatial configuration.
Fig. 4.3.4
VGA analysis of the first floor level with
connectivity parameter activated.
Fig. 4.3.5
VGA analysis of the first floor level with
integration value parameter activated.
Scatter plot of the data correlation
between the visual integration (HH) value and
the connectivity value (Figure 4.3.6) recorded
the R2 value as 0.74661 which indicates that the
first floor level is highly uninterrupted and ease
the movements of the public to maneuver
across the exhibition area.
Fig. 4.3.6
Scatter plot of visual integration vs
connectivity of the first floor level.
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
4.3.3 Second floor plan
The connectivity value on the second floor
level is similar as it is on the first floor level
which is higher on the exhibition area where the
average recorded value is 1710.00 which is
intended to make the movements flow in the
exhibition area more seamless. The highest
recorded connectivity value is 1754.00 which is
also on the exhibition area. While the lowest
recorded connectivity value is 23.00 which is
the toilet and service core as they should be
hidden from the public to provide better
exhibition experience. Overall view of the VGA
analysis on the second floor level (Figure 4.3.7)
indicated seamless spatial configuration.
Fig. 4.3.8
VGA analysis of the second floor level with
connectivity parameter activated.
Scatter plot of the data correlation
between the visual integration (HH) value and
the connectivity value (Figure 4.3.8) recorded
the R2 value as 0.878409 which indicates that
the second floor level is highly uninterrupted
and ease the movements of the public to
maneuver across the exhibition area.
Fig. 4.3.7
VGA analysis of the second floor level with
connectivity parameter activated.
Further analysis on the integration value of
the building also shows similar patterns with
previous connectivity analysis with the highest
integration value of 12.109964 is recorded at
the exhibition area which is by far the highest
integration value ever recorded during the
overall analysis of the building. The average
recorded integration value for the exhibition
area is recorded at 10.691732 which also
continues to spread to the exterior public green
spaces, suggesting good movement flows of
the exhibition area. While the lowest integration
value recorded is 2.353689 which is located at
the toilet and service riser which is also
intended to be hidden. It can be inferred that the
spatial configuration of the second floor level is
similar to the first floor level which is very
seamless for the experience of public visitors in
the exhibition area as shown in Figure 4.3.8.
Fig. 4.3.9
Scatter plot of visual integration vs
connectivity of the second floor level.
4.4 Overall result
To summarize the results obtained from all
three space syntax analyses, the proposed site
location which is adjacent to Jalan Tandok is
very good in terms of connectivity and allowing
people to discover the areas without much
effort in the first place. The contributing factor
of the facts is also due to the position of Jalan
Tandok which is directly connected to Jalan
Maarof which has the highest integration value
compared to all the other streets there is. While
on the visibility aspect, the proposed site
possesses a considerably high connectivity in
terms of getting seen by the public which is
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| Understanding the usage of space syntax analysis in architecture
possibly due to the reason that there are not
many buildings on the site surrounding to block
the public’s line of sight and the position of the
site which is just besides the street, making it
highly and easily visible.
Focusing on the performance of the spatial
configuration of the building, VGA analysis
proves that the building is very permeable and
easy to maneuver in terms of movements flow
across the space due to the open floor plan
approach which is intended to ease the public’s
navigation without any need for extensive
wayfinding assistance. On the ground floor
level, exterior and interior public spaces
possess high connectivity and integration value
to allow for better public accessibility and
discovery, especially on the entrance and
public plaza which is important to capture
publics interest. While on the upper floor level,
the exhibition area is able to achieve a very high
value of connectivity and integration value
which is very good as the purpose of the spaces
is to ensure that the audience’s journey in the
exhibition area is seamless and uninterrupted.
Overall, the proposed project can be
considered as successful in the aspect of
spatial configuration and site planning in
relation to the connectivity and visibility to the
public visitors.
5.0 Conclusion
Space syntax analysis is proven as a great
tool for identifying and assessing spatial
configuration during this research. From the
global aspect, it has been used in various
applications such as predicting pedestrian
movement, analyzing the accessibility and
connectivity of urban environments, evaluating
the effects of urban design interventions, and
optimizing the layout of buildings and urban
spaces. The method has been applied in
numerous urban design and planning projects
around the world, and has been shown to be a
useful tool for generating design insights and
evaluating design proposals. There are still
rooms for improvement such as making the
software far more friendly in terms of the
interface and optimization of the analysis since
some of the times, the loading time for the
analysis can be very long. The other
recommendation would be in the aspect of
workflow which can be improved by enabling
the software to work with other software in real
time to enable the user to see change in a far
more dynamic ways.
Space syntax is one of the viable solutions
to evaluate the effectiveness of spatial
configuration in the mathematical or formulaic
sense which can contribute towards efficiency
in terms of time consumption and workload
required for the assessment. Architectural field
can benefit a lot from the usage of space syntax
analysis and more people in the field should
utilize it in the future.
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