Using Space Syntax Analysis In Detecting Privacy: a Comparative Study of Traditional and Modern House Layouts In Erbil City, Iraq (original) (raw)
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The aim of this paper is, firstly, to examine the parameters that have a role in achieving functional efficiency in using interior domestic spaces and to what extent these influence the distribution of spaces; secondly, to investigate the relationship between house layout morphology and the efficiency level of these layouts functionally. In this paper, Space Syntax theory is used to examine the spatial morphology of both types (traditional and modern) house layouts in Erbil city, in order to determine the level of functional efficiency of their configurations, through an analytical comparative approach. A sample of house layouts consists of both traditional and modern house layouts, has been analyzed morphologically. The process of analysis has been carried out by applying the software program (A-Graph) in detecting differences and similarities in their patterning. Results show that modern house layouts offer better design solutions in terms of the level of functional efficiency in comparing with traditional house layouts, in accordance to the indicators and measurements of Space Syntax methodology that adopted by this study. The data collected will be valuable in the design process of future house layouts at least in Erbil City.
The concept of privacy and its effects on residential layout and design: Amman as a case study
Habitat International, 2016
The continued increase of housing costs related to construction and land property in Jordan has greatly impacted the housing market. As a result, smaller sizes of residential units have been planned and developed with an eye to the meager financial means of the average Jordanian. In this research work, an assessment of the internal layouts of residential units in the capital city of Amman was undertaken to discover how these new design trends affect the privacy of individuals occupying the units. Several different types of layouts were analyzed in terms of privacy and functional zones (number and types of zones) along with the relationship between these zones. As a result of this study, two design layouts have emerged. We will refer to these as the Dual Zone and the Triple Zone layouts. It was observed that as the number of zones increased within a housing unit, the amount of privacy also increased substantially. For this reason, the Triple Zone, which exhibits a higher level of privacy, does so because it provides a semiprivate buffer zone (or transitional zone) between the private zone and the public zone. This effectively reduces the social interaction between unit occupants which results in increased privacy. Given the above, there exists a real need to propose various space layouts with the goal of achieving multiple levels of privacy; the aim being to improve the quality of life within residential units themselves.
An Evaluation of Visual Privacy Level in Residential Unit's Layouts in Khartoum, Sudan
Journal of Islamic Architecture, 2021
Visual privacy is one of the vital aspects of Islamic house designs. This paper aimed to analyze the level of visual privacy in the layout of different residential apartment unit samples in Khartoum, Sudan based on Islamic values and Sudanese culture and how modern apartment unit designs respond to these needs. Models included four units from courtyard-villas and two units from apartment buildings. The architectural layout plans, spatial relation, functions, and space zoning were applied to assess the level of visual privacy of each unit. Findings showed that the courtyard-villas had a higher degree of privacy and cultural values, reflecting more of the Sudanese lifestyle than the apartment units, even though the design of the apartment units pays more attention to the nuclear family privacy. This study would assist designers in enhancing the visual privacy in apartment unit layouts by highlighting factors that diminish or enhance the visual privacy level to create appropriate desig...
Journal of research in architecture and planning, 2022
Our lifestyle has its effects on the design and layout of house which also in turn affects the housing market. The function of the space is one important factor affecting interactions. In the last few decades, an important change has occurred in the layout of houses in terms of designation of spaces for specific functions as seen, in Pakistan. This study analyzed 15 different cases of house layouts from three major cities of Pakistan. Space syntax was used to quantify the layouts of these houses using DepthmapX software. The measure of integration, space-link ratios and difference factors were calculated for each case in the sample. The average integration and difference factor of the sample range from 0.62-1.02 and 0.52-0.81 with average value of 0.88 and 0.73 respectively. The results showed that underneath the apparent different layouts, there resides a consistent spatial pattern in the order of spatial arrangements of different layouts. The spatial pattern showed Living room as the most integrated space of the layout this found in 14 out 16 cases. The second most integrated space was kitchen reported in 9 out of 15 cases. The third integrated place was bedroom 9 out of 15cases. The results of this study may provide insights into the future development of housing layouts based on the existing pattern of use.
Space Design and Privacy in a Saudi House
2014
Owners shape the interior spaces of their houses to support their daily needs. In Saudi Arabia owners’ decisions are influenced by social needs and rules. These social rules, in traditional houses, require multiple spaces that share the same function yet each target specific users. The spaces are mainly gender oriented, and reflect different sides of the owners’ needs. This paper focuses on one of these personal needs: privacy. The paper looks at the meaning of privacy and its importance inside contemporary Saudi houses. Privacy, as an issue, is international and affects people globally. It is asked here whether privacy is a culturally universal or culturally specified concern, and is concluded that it is an international concern yet with cultural specifications; something to be, respected by designers and reflected in their designs for living spaces. In this paper we have conducted an empirical study (interviews and observations) with Saudi females in order to understand the meanin...
visual privacy and residential facades in traditional and modern
Visual privacy is defined as the ability to conduct the everyday activities at home without being observed by outsiders. The importance of visual privacy differs from culture to culture, and in Islam it is a central concern in the society. In a traditional Islamic society, architecture is in accordance to the cultural and religious demand. The traditional houses either in Tehran or any Islamic cities, the physical layout of the houses were designed to fulfill these tenets. The physical aspects of the house satisfied the attitudes of privacy especially the high level of visual privacy which guaranteed the occupant secured from strangers. Today the traditional values and regulations are neglected in the modern house design. The modern apartments which are inhibited by the Muslim family cannot convince the privacy needs of their residents. Somehow studies show that majority of the women in Iran consider visual privacy as the central element in housing environment. On the other hand, the urban design practices and the municipal ordinances prevailed in the development of the modern cities of Iran, do not adequately satisfy women's desired level of visual privacy. This paper attempts to delineate the importance of visual privacy in the apartment units in the city of Tehran. The discussion also deals with the traditional house and apartments in the hot arid region of Iran. It explores the hierarchy, building layout, openings, balconies, and the entrance characteristics as the most important factors that have an effective impact on different levels for achieving privacy.
Proceedings Article
Urban complexity of the Algerian town, in this case the city of Biskra, consisting of a compilation of different fabrics through history (the old city, the colonial fabric, and the post-independence fabric), has produced several housing types. Therefore, a variety of domestic architecture has emerged; vernacular, colonial, self-built (independent), and contemporary houses. Houses architecture is apparently different from one type to other in organization and morphological aspect. The study based on analytical-comparative to examine the transformation of the spatial organization of a sample of houses layouts from different periods of time (pre-colonial, colonial, independence, and contemporary period) in term of permeability, in Biskra city. The aim of this study is to uncover the genotype and the underlying characteristics of different spatial layouts by using the space syntax method. This paper explores the influence of inhabitant's behaviors and the socio-cultural effects on the spatial configuration and space-functions of the houses layouts. In the context of discovering the differentiation and the similarities between the samples that consist of 16 houses: four houses from each period; an analysis has been carried out by applying the "Gammaanalysis" using the A-graph program in detecting the genotypical consistencies in their patterning. Finally, the results of this research suggest that despite all the apparent differences in spatial organizations and configurations of all the houses in the sample, are follow the same rules (invariable principles) organizing the space system; according to the concept of Genotype and Phenotype.
International Journal of Architectural Research, 2014
The notion of privacy represents a central criterion for both indoor and outdoor social spaces in most traditional Arab settlements. This paper investigates privacy and everyday life as determinants of the physical properties of the built and urban fabric and will study their impact on traditional settlements and architecture of the home in the contemporary Iraqi city. It illustrates the relationship between socio-cultural aspects of public/private realms using the notion of the social sphere as an investigative tool of the concept of social space in Iraqi houses and local communities (Mahalla). This paper reports that in spite of the impact of other factors in articulating built forms, privacy embodies the primary role under the effects of Islamic rules, principles and culture. The crucial problem is the underestimation of traditional inherited values through opening social spaces to the outside that giving unlimited accesses to the indoor social environment creating many problems with regard to privacy and communal social integration.
ANALYZING VISIBILITY STRUCTURES IN TURKISH DOMESTIC SPACES
spacesyntaxistanbul.itu.edu.tr
Visibility refers to visual information provided to observers at any given location and is directly related to the geometry of space as much as to the movement of observer. In buildings in general and houses in particular, information control achieved through visual fields are part of privacy-territory building mechanisms that aim to regulate the amount and level of interpersonal interaction between inhabitants, and inhabitants and visitors. This paper presents the results of visibility analysis conducted on a sample of 108 Turkish apartment plans that had previously been examined in terms of permeability to understand the transformation of Turkish housing over the 20th century . For visibility analysis, two software programs are used: Depthmap, developed by Alasdair Turner at UCL, and Syntax 2D program, developed by James Turner at the University of Michigan. The analysis has shown that spatially and visually the most integrated spaces coincide with each other for all three groups. The analysis also indicate that visibility characteristics of the houses enhance its special characteristics and thus the changes that are not apparent in permeability analysis might be clearly seen when examined in terms of visibility structures. This is because of the additional visibility measures that take into account variables that permeability analysis itself is not able to, such as the size of the opening between different functional spaces. These results corroborate the findings of earlier research and suggest that visibility structures work together and enhance the permeability structures to interface and distance different kinds of relationships.