The space syntax of intelligible communities

Abstract

Cities are complex human artifacts organized to be legible. Their legibility directly affects how easily we can explore them and how effectively we can find our way to specific destinations. Legibility, however, is deeply linked to other kinds of functionality, specifically the distribution of movement and co-presence over public space, and the distribution of land uses relative to the street network. one particular approach to the analysis of the legibility of urban space, links our intuitive understanding of space to rigorous analysis and quantification. By offering quantitative descriptions of the spatial structure of environments as it affects human functions, including exploration and wayfinding, space syntax contributes to interdisciplinary research on spatial cognition. In addition, analytical descriptions such as those offered by space syntax allow us: First, to specify and benchmark the properties of different types of environments thus helping us articulate what is desirable in particular situations according to a growing body of systematic knowledge and evidence. Second, to evaluate design and planning alternatives in order to make decisions. The aim of this chapter is to provide an introduction to current space syntax research that is most directly linked to community wayfinding.