SMUA5020 Space Syntax techniques and analytical design Course description

In this course, the fields of architecture and urbanism are brought together to create a greater knowledge of how complex architectural and urban systems work, and how spaces can be planned, designed and manufactured to create a sustainable society. Specifically, this course connects through the theory and method of space syntax the fields of spatial analysis and urban design in the arena of transport, land use, and people’s behavior. Its application ranges from the scale of individual streets, neighborhoods to cities and regions. Space syntax’ rigorous geometrical and mathematical descriptions and quantifications of human spatial systems allows insight about social, economic and cognitive factors and their impacts on the built environment. Space syntax as a mathematical modeling approach is applied in research and practice worldwide to analyze the built environment.

Knowledge about Geographic Information System (GIS) and data collection of advantage is recommended, but not mandatory.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

Upon completing the course, the student should have the following outcomes:

Knowledge:

Upon successfully completion of the course, the student has gained advanced knowledge to:

• explain how complex urban systems work using space syntax theory and method
• critical reflect on space syntax theory and method and recognize different methods for analyzing cities
• understand how space syntax contributes to the urban theory discourse and how the space syntax technique work
• outline different aspects of spatial function including movement, land use, crime pattern, and land values to achieve a better understanding of the way cities function.
• understand how obtained results from space syntax analysis can be correlated with socio-economic data

Skills:

Upon successfully completion of the course, the student can:

• experiment and test spatial hypotheses relating to different fields in urban planning and design
• strategically assess the role of spatial configuration in the design process and in relation to questions such as the sustainability of the built environment.
• measure and analyze spatial relations and spatial function
• explain the relationships between the built environment and human behavior by means of interpretative models

General competence:

Upon successfully completion of the course, the student can:

• reflect on ethical, philosophical and scientific challenges about how cities work and whether sustainable development is taken into account in the plans/design.
• appraise the interaction between the physical environment, and the cities' social and economic life.
• understand space syntax as a method and theory in research and practice
• undertake space syntax analysis and interpret analytical results
• develop general knowledge from own research topic

The course is delivered through seminars, lectures, hands-on computer workshops, a variety of field trips in and around Oslo (physically or digitally).

Final report and presentation.

Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements can be given up to one re-submission opportunity.

Assignment submitted as final report and presentation:

1. Individual or group project assignment in pair of two: Project report prepared individual or in groups of students, approx. 5,000 -8,000 words including figures and references. This report is weighted 80% of the grade.
2. Oral presentation Individually or in pair of two, with a length of 15 minutes and examination of the project report with a length of 15 minutes, weighted 20% of the final grade.

Grading is individual, which means that grades may differ within each group. Both oral and written examinations can be presented/written in teams. To ensure that individual grading should be possible, each group of students will provide a written and signed statement in where each individual's contribution is clearly stated and explained

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) to pass the course.

Assessment parts: 1) can be appealed, 2) cannot be appealed

1) All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

2) None

Graded scale A-F.

1) Two internal examiners for the written project report, 2 internal examiners on the oral presentation and examination.

2) Two internal examiners,

External examiners are used regularly.

Claudia Hedwig van der Laag