The Analysis Of Space And Its Configurations Based On Visibility

The paper mainly explains the concept of "visibility" which has been long neglected by the architectural research, and reviews the theory, method and practice of space syntax as well as its recent development from the viewpoint of visibility analysis, and also attempts to analysis some cases using the methods.There are seven parts in the paper. The first chapter simply reviews some methods of space analysis based on visual perceptions. Chapter two discusses the definition, perception basis, levels and architectural meanings of visibility analysis. Then some methods of visibility analysis are explained separately on the local and global level. On the local level, the principles and applications of isovist analysis are introduced in chapter three, which also contains the analysis of Garden Liu and five houses. On the global level, the theory and method of space syntax is explained in three chapters: Chapter four introduces the concept and analysis methods of configurations; Chapter five summarizes the concept and the methods of three groups of space partitions; Then the applications of space syntax and the case of the analysis of a residential area are discussed in chapter six. Finally some latest improvements of related studies are supplied in chapter seven.Above all, visibility analysis and space syntax are necessary and operable in the research and design of space, although which are not sufficient. It is hoped the review and introduction of visibility analysis and space syntax in the paper may help to the deeper study in the field, for little related research has been mentioned in China before.The paper contains about 65000 characters and 114 illustrations.