Post on 12-Apr-2017
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016@kerstinsailer
Understanding Complex BuildingsSpace Syntax as a theory and method to unpack
spatial networks and social processes
Dr Kerstin Sailer
Lecturer in Complex Buildings
Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
CASA Research Seminar, 3 February 2016
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016@kerstinsailer
Understanding Complex BuildingsSpace Syntax as a theory and method to unpack
spatial networks and social processes
What is a complex building?
On the social nature of architecture
A brief introduction to Space Syntax
Overview of Space Syntax research
Libraries, Offices, Hospitals & Schools
Outlook
CASA Research Seminar, 3 February 2016
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
What is a Complex Building?
“Complex systems are systems that comprise
many interacting parts with the
ability to generate a new quality of
collective behavior through self-
organization, e.g. the spontaneous formation
of temporal, spatial or functional structures.
They are therefore adaptive as they evolve
and may contain self-driving feedback loops.
Thus, complex systems are much more than
a sum of their parts. Complex systems are
often characterized as having extreme
sensitivity to initial conditions as well as
emergent behavior that are not readily
predictable or even completely deterministic.”
(Meyers 2009)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
What is a Complex Building?
“Complex systems are systems that comprise
many interacting parts with the
ability to generate a new quality of
collective behavior through self-
organization, e.g. the spontaneous formation
of temporal, spatial or functional structures.
They are therefore adaptive as they evolve
and may contain self-driving feedback loops.
Thus, complex systems are much more than
a sum of their parts. Complex systems are
often characterized as having extreme
sensitivity to initial conditions as well as
emergent behavior that are not readily
predictable or even completely deterministic.”
(Meyers 2009)
Spatial
Organisational
Social
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
?
On the Social Nature of Architecture
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Robin Evans: “If anything is described by an architectural
plan, it is the nature of human relationships.”
Evans (1997): Figures, Doors and Passages
On the Social Nature of ArchitectureOn the Social Nature of Architecture
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Family Prayers by Samuel Butler (1864)
Coleshill House by Sir Roger Pratt (1650-1667)Villa Capra ‘La Rotunda’ by Andrea Palladio (1567-1592)
Madonna dell’Impannata by Raphael (1513-1514)
RE
NA
ISS
AN
CE
19T
HC
EN
TU
RY
Inter-
connected
rooms
The birth
of the
corridor
‘habitual
gregariousness,
passion, carnality
and sociality’
‘society aimed at
avoiding human
contact’
On the Social Nature of Architecture Evans (1997): Figures, Doors and Passages
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
On the Social Nature of Architecture
Two main characteristics of a building (socially):
• Distinguish the inside from the outside and thus drawing boundaries and controlling
access
• Mechanism of generating and constraining patterns of encounter and avoidance, i.e.
bringing together or separating certain groups of people
Patterns of Usage at the British Library
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Conceived in 1970’s at UCL by Bill Hiller, Julienne Hanson and colleagues as theory to think
about relationship between spatial structure and social life
Is there any relationship between the spatial design of cities or buildings, and the way they
work socially?
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Understanding basic functions of space: access and control
(Hill
ier
1996
)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Spatial configuration:
The way in which spatial elements are
put together to form an interconnected
system of spaces
(Hill
ier
1996
)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Analysis of the relative location of single spaces within the wider system of connections
10
01
1
1
1
22
233
100
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
6
Total depth: 16
Integrated Segregated
Total depth: 30
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Regular grid to create isovists
Floor plan Syntax model:
Strategic visibility
IntegratedS
egregated
Constructing a
visibility graph
(VGA)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Why does it matter?
Main proposition of Space
Syntax research: character of
social life within a space
depends on its position within
the fabric of a city or a building
Integrated spaces: livelier and
frequented by more people
Segregated spaces: lesser
frequentation
Affects the patterns of co-
presence and encounter in
space and thus the patterns of
interaction between people
Background: A Brief Introduction to Space Syntax
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Using Space Syntax to Analyse Buildings and Cities
Spatial layout can create and distribute patterns of collective movement of visitors
Movement traces of visitors in first 10 minutes of
their visit at Tate Britain (Hillier et al 1996)
Visibility analysis of Tate Britain (Source: Space
Syntax Ltd)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Using Space Syntax to Evaluate Design Choices
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Using Space Syntax to Evaluate Design Choices
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Seg
rega
ted
Inte
grat
ed
Using Space Syntax to Evaluate Design Choices
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Overview of Space Syntax research
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Overview of Space Syntax research
Ava Fatah
Sam Griffiths
Ashley Dhanani
Sean Hanna
Laura Vaughan
Kayvan Karimi
Sophia Psarra
Tasos Varoudis
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Understanding Complex Buildings
Libraries
Hospitals Offices
Schools
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Libraries
Diversity and temporal dynamics of usage of the
British Library, ‘multiplicities of occupation’ (Groak
1992)
Sailer, Kerstin (2015): The dynamics and diversity of space
use in the British Library; A|Z Journal of the Faculty of
Architecture, ITU, Vol 12, No 3, 23-39
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Libraries: Diversity and Dynamics in the British Library
Spatial analysis of the British Library
Connectivity Integration
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Libraries: Diversity and Dynamics in the BL
Collective movement flow: distinct behaviours of readers and
non-readers
Configuration of building plays
only minor part (overall
correlation with movement
flow: R2=0.03 for axial choice;
for non-readers only on each of
3 upper floors: R2=0.20-0.29)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Libraries: Diversity and Dynamics in the BL
Behavioural differences by spatial quality and between weekday & weekend usage patterns
Weekends:
People working on laptops /
laptops & reading / reading /
sitting: smaller and more
integrated spaces;
Talking in much more integrated
spaces
→ Seeking socialisation
opportunities and more relaxed,
buzzy atmosphere on weekends
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Offices
Comparative analysis of interaction patterns
across different knowledge-intensive
industries
Sailer, Kerstin; Koutsolampros, Petros; Zaltz Austwick,
Martin; Varoudis, Tasos; Hudson-Smith, Andy (2016):
Measuring Interaction in Workplaces, In: Dalton N,
Varoudis T, Schnadelbach H and Wiberg M (eds):
Architecture and Interaction, Springer series Human-
Computer Interaction
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Offices
Distribution of interactions – the myth of ‘bumping into people in the corridor’
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Offices
Analysing interaction density and visual mean depth in a single representation
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Hospitals
Comparison of out-patient clinics in a
hospital in the Netherlands and Canada
Pachilova, Rosica and Kerstin Sailer (2014): Evidence-
Based Design: The Effect of Hospital Layouts on the
Caregiver-Patient Interfaces, Proceedings of the
Design4Health Conference, Sheffield, 174-184
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Hospitals
5 out-patient clinics investigated in each case; example: Cardiology
HO
SP
ITA
L A
[C
A]
HO
SP
ITA
L B
[N
L]
5 10
5 10
MEAN DEPTH min mean max
Hospital A [CA] 2.99 6.04 1.97
Hospital B [NL] 1.63 2.19 4.74
CONNECTIVITY min mean max
Hospital A [CA] 2 140.1 467
Hospital B [NL] 2 491.4 996
Visual Mean Depth
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Hospitals
Shadowing caregivers and observing communication behaviours
HO
SP
ITA
L B
[N
L]
64%
31%
26%
36%
69%
74%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Charting Galley
Corridor
Exam
unintentional intentional
Location of communication
Unintentional= 44%
Intentional= 56%
Intentional
Unintentional
Physicians
Nurses
Clerks
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Hospitals
Time spent in care processes by different professions (data from shadowing)
HO
SP
ITA
L A
[C
A]
Nurses Clerks
HO
SP
ITA
L B
[N
L]
Physicians
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools
Development of a theoretical framework to
analyse school building in relation to
pedagogy and processes of teaching and
learning
Sailer, Kerstin (2015): The Spatial and Social Organisation
of Teaching and Learning: The case of Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry; In: Karimi, Kayvan et al (eds):
Proceedings of the 10th International Space Syntax
Symposium, 34:1-34:17
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: A wonderful example of a school building...
…and how it shapes human relationships, learning, teaching and sociability.
8 movies
20 hours of watching
Observed and categorised 418 episodes of learning
Learning: an activity or process of
gaining knowledge or skill by studying,
practicing, being taught or
experiencing something.
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: Analysing the spatial structure and logic of Hogwarts
Hand-drawn map by Joanne K Rowling Plan constructed by fan community
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: Analysing the spatial structure and logic of Hogwarts
Full Space Syntax model
Visibility Graph (average Mean Depth = 11.4)Integrated Segregated
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: Pedagogy at Hogwarts
Relationship between teacher
and taught / among teachers:
‘Strong Framing’ (Bernstein 1973)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: Learning at Hogwarts
48% of learning: Public spaces (corridors, the
Great Hall, courtyards, Quidditch pitch, grounds).
Only 10% of learning takes place in
classrooms.
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Schools: Sociability at Hogwarts
Any building orders people into categories (visitors, inhabitants) and adds
system of controls: ‘Interface’ (Hillier and Hanson 1984)
“Your house will be
like your family”
(Prof McGonagoll)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Outlook
“Culturally and socially, space is never simply the inert background of our material existence. It
is a key aspect of how societies and cultures are constituted in the real world, and, through this
constitution, structured for us as ‘objective’ realities. Space is more than a neutral framework for social and cultural forms. It is built into those very forms. Human behaviour does not
simply happen in space. It has its own spatial forms. Encountering, congregating,
avoiding, interacting, dwelling, teaching, eating, conferring are not just activities that happen in
space. In themselves they constitute spatial patterns.” (Hillier 1996, p.29)
Understanding Complex Buildings Sailer, February 2016
Dr Kerstin Sailer
Lecturer in Complex Buildings
Space Syntax Laboratory
Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
140 Hampstead Road
London NW1 2BX
United Kingdom
Thank you!
k.sailer@ucl.ac.uk
@kerstinsailer
http://spaceandorganisation.org/
http://tinyurl.com/kerstinsailer