From space syntax to space semantics A behaviorally and perceptually oriented methodology for the efficient description of the geometry and topology of environments

Human spatial behavior and experience cannot be investigated independently from the shape and configuration of environments. Therefore, comparative studies in architectural psychology and spatial cognition need some form of operationalization of space capturing behavioral and psychologically relevant properties and providing a common denominator. This paper presents theoretical and methodological issues arising from the practical application of isovist-based graphs for spatial analysis. Based on recent studies exploring the influence of spatial form and structure on behavior and experience, in particular the following topics are discussed: (1) The derivation and empirical verification of meaningful descriptor variables on basis of classic qualitative theories of environmental psychology relating behavior and experience to spatial properties. (2) Methods to select reference points for spatial analysis at a local level. Furthermore, based on two experiments exploring the human phenomenal conception of the spatial structure of architectural environments, formalized strategies for (3) the selection of reference points at a global or environmental level and for (4) their integration into a sparse yet plausible graph structure describing an environment at a whole are proposed. Taken together, a well formalized and psychologically oriented methodology for the efficient description of spatial properties of environments is outlined. This method appears useful for a wide range of applications from abstract architectural analysis over behavioral experiments to studies on mental representations in cognitive science. ∗Formerly also associated to Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Zoology, University of Tübingen. Now at College de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France.