Events

Space Syntax and Spatial Cognition Workshop

A one day workshop on Space Syntax and Spatial Cognition will be held on 24th September 2006 as part of the Spatial Cognition '06 conference at Universität Bremen, Germany.

Background

The term space syntax describes a set of theories and methods for the analysis of spatial configurations. It was conceived by Bill Hillier, Julienne Hanson and their colleagues at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL in the late 1970s to early 1980s. The original premise behind space syntax concerned the relationship between space and society, rather than space and the individual subject. Not only does a society create the spaces that it uses, but a community (be it the inhabitants of a settlement or the users of a complex building) is further affected or influenced by the system of spaces it inhabits. Although space syntax analytic techniques were never specifically developed as tools for predicting pedestrian movement, it has been found that there is a powerful relationship between movement and spatial structure. It is this predictive ability of space syntax analyses that causes it to be used as a design tool by many architects and urban planners.

The term space syntax betrays its early analogies to linguistic theories. It was felt that, just as there is a limited combination of words, which can be assembled into a meaningful sentence, there are a limited number of meaningful spatial configurations. Although it is possible to generate (using generative algorithms) a near-infinite number of, for example, building plans, only a small number of these bear any relationship to real-world designs. The linguistic analogy is that although it is possible to randomly generate grammatically correct sentences, only a small number of these would make any sense. The conclusion is that configurations of spaces have not only a grammar, but also a ‘syntax’: the pattern of relationships between spaces. It is this pattern of spatial relations that cause configurations to be meaningful and that as human beings we have an innate ability to ‘read’ or comprehend these meanings. It is this aspect of designing meaningful environments which connects space syntax to other academic fields interested in environmental cognition.

Cognitive science, space syntax, and environment and behavior studies bring different methods to the study of environmental cognition. Cognitive scientists often have created formal models of wayfinding behavior that allow larger structures and patterns to emerge. Other cognitive science researchers measure reaction time to investigate information processing. Space syntax research has developed quantitative descriptors of the topological form of settings that are good predictors of where people will be found walking. Environment and behavior researchers have developed tools such as sketch maps, think-aloud protocols, and tracking of individuals. There are clear opportunities for synergy. The spatial description tools of syntax can be applied to the analysis of human movement patterns on the level of aggregate movement data, but also have appeared to be applicable more recently to cognitive phenomena such as the layout of sketch maps (Kim & Penn,2004) and exploration of wayfinding behavior of individual test participants (e.g., Haq & Zimring, 2003; Conroy-Dalton, 2003). The modelling precision of cognitive science can be applied to the real-world settings that environment and behavior researchers study. Although cognitive science researchers tend to be concerned with cognitive processes rather than designing good environments, the greater precision in defining the independent variable that syntax provides can also be applied to cognitive science.

In recent years, researchers in the cognitive science community have made attempts to utilize Space Syntax techniques to better understand the relation of cognitive phenomena and properties of the environment. This is most prominently visible in a special issue of Environment & Behavior (Issue 1, 2003), but also in e.g., Wiener and Franz (2005). Yet scepticism is voiced how well the phenomena originally captured with Space Syntax methods for aggregate behavioural data translate to individual cognitive processes. How can the requirements and benefits of spatial cognition and space syntax most adequately be brought together?

The workshop will provide a platform for researchers who try to connect Space Syntax and cognitive issues to present their work. We hope to raise awareness of the opportunities to advance both fields by cooperation on methodological issues as well as theoretical clarifications. We will give individual researchers the opportunity to present original research work (including work-in-progress) as well theoretical position papers. In addition, the workshop will allow ample time for discussing controversial issues as well as methodological challenges.

For researchers already well-versed in the techniques of space syntax, this workshop provides an opportunity to explore the relationship between spatial configurations and the individual, as well as a chance to meet with cognitive scientists approaching these issues from the opposite direction.

For researchers with a background in Spatial Cognition, the workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the applicability of this technique to capture the impact of environmental features in Spatial Cognition studies and experiments.

(CH & RCD April 2006)

References

• Conroy Dalton, R. (2003). The secret is to follow your nose: Route path selection an angularity. Environment and Behavior, 35(1), 107-131.

• Kim, Y. O., Penn, A. (2004) Linking the spatial syntax of cognitive maps to the spatial syntax of the environment. Environment and Behavior, 36(4), 483-504.

• Haq, S., Zimring, C. (2003). Just down the road a piece: The development of topological knowledge of building layouts. Environment and Behavior, 35(1), 132-160.

• Wiener, J. M., Franz, G. (2005). Isovists as a means to predict spatial experience and behavior. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence #3343, 42-57.