architectural space as a network - physical and virtual communities
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at Workshop 'Innovation at the Verge - Computational Models of Physical / Virtual Space Interaction'; Leiden/NL, 18 Dec 2012 This talk explores the role of architectural space as a network that structures patterns of co-presence of occupants. It is suggested that one outcome of the configuration of space (in buildings or cities) is to structure a field of potential co-presence between people – a ‘virtual community’ - which gives rise to real encounter networks as people move through and inhabit it. Through the structure of physical space and the associated field of potential co-presence social groupings are either conserved, or new groupings are generated. Examples are given to illustrate this. It is furthermore suggested that society coheres by means of both spatial and transpatial solidarities, which means individuals will participate in multiple distinct networks at the same time. Spatial networks are generated through face-to-face encounter in architectural space, and are dependent on spatial relational structures, while transpatial ties result from shared values, ethos and identities. As technologies become more and more ubiquitous, they increasingly structure people’s patterns of interaction and seemingly move them away from physical space and into a new realm of online communities. This raises the question of whether physical space still plays the role it used to play and how we can conceptualise multiple overlapping network affiliations in both physical and virtual spaces. Therefore the affordances of technology in offering means of communication and encounter across time and space are discussed and put into perspective of the real life face-to-face networks of people realised in physical space.TRANSCRIPT
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
ARCHITECTURAL SPACE AS A NETWORKPHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES
Dr Kerstin SailerBartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London
Lorentz Workshop ‘Innovation at the Verge – Computational Models of Physical / Virtual Space Interaction’, Leiden / NL, 17-21 Dec 2012
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Architectural Space as a Network
Flow of space represented as a spatial network → patterns of co-presence of occupants
SOCIALBEHAVIOURS
construct affects
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Architectural Space as a NetworkCo-presence of occupants:
‘Virtual Community’
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Architectural Space as a Network
“Co-present individuals may not know each other, or even acknowledge each other, but it will be argued that this does not mean to say that co-presence is not a social fact and a social resource. Co-present people are not a community, but they are part of the raw material for community, which may in due course become activated, and can be activated if it becomes necessary. However, even without conversion into interaction, patterns of co-presence are a psychological resource, precisely because co-presence is the primitive form of our awareness of others. Patterns of co-presence and co-awareness are the distinctive product of spatial design, and constitute, it will be argued, the prime constituents of what will be called the ‘virtual community’.”
Bill Hillier (1996): Space is the Machine
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Bill Hillier (1996): Space is the Machine
Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
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Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
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Total depth: 30
Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Floor plan
Axial topology
Metric topology
Visual graph analysis
Space usage, e.g. movement flow
Architectural Space as a Network – The Method of Space Syntax
Integrated Segregated
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Comparative Analysis of Cities
© Bill Hillier et al
1000m 500m
Part of Tokyo Part of London
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 201210000m
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LONDON and its region within the M25, with its strong centre and strong radials, but weak lateral connections between the radials
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 201210000m
BEIJING with its relative weak centre and weak radials, but stronglateral structure between radials
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Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 201210000m
TOKYO with its fairly strong centre, strong radials and strong laterals, generating the strong sub-city structure characteristic of Tokyo
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Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: City Centres and Retail Activity
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Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Public Spaces
© Anna Rose / Space Syntax Ltd.
Old Market Square, Nottingham
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Public Spaces
© Anna Rose / Space Syntax Ltd.
Old Market Square, Nottingham
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Museums
Spatial configuration and movement flows at Tate Britain
SOCIALBEHAVIOURS
© Bill Hillier / Space Syntax Ltd.
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Libraries
Movement flows in the British Library
Movement flows on Upper Ground Floor – Data collection by UCL MSc AAS students in 2009 and 2010
ReadersNon-Readers
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Space Syntax Research: Workplace Environments
Movement flows in offices: result of configuration and attractor placement
SOCIALBEHAVIOURS
© Kerstin Sailer
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
From Spatial to Transpatial Solidarities: from Virtual to Real Communities
SOCIALBEHAVIOURS
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Spatial and Transpatial Solidarities
Concept of spatiality and transpatial solidarity as two distinct ways of creating relationships between individuals:
“In their elementary forms, in effect, buildings (…) can define a relation to others by conceptual analogy, rather than spatial relation. The inhabitant of a house in a village, say, is related to his neighbours spatially, in that he occupies a location in relation to them, but also he relates to them conceptually, in that his interior system of spatialised categories is similar or different from those of his neighbours. He relates, it might be said, transpatially as well as spatially.”
(Hillier and Hanson 1984: 18ff)
Key features of spatial and transpatial ordering of categories:• Affinity between individuals spatially as well as transpatially driven• Societies may use one way of ordering more than another• Ordering of space not of equal conspicuousness to every culture
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
SOCIAL SOLIDARITIESFORM Mechanic Organic
Integration through similarity Interdependence through differentiationHomogeneity Heterogeneity
ORGANISATIONAL OPERATIONS
Long models, i.e. strongly programmed Short models, i.e. weakly programmedHierarchies Network StructureVertical communication Lateral communicationTranspatial Spatial
SPATIAL IMPLICATIONS
Segregated and sparse space Integrated and dense spaceInterior relations, ‘inside’ Exterior relations, ‘outside’Well defined categorical differences between spaces
Weakly defined categorical differences between spaces
High levels of control of events and encounter
Low levels of control of events and encounter
Sources: Durkheim 1893, Burns and Stalker 1961, Hillier and Hanson 1984, Hillier and Penn 1991; summarised in Sailer 2010
Spatial and Transpatial Solidarities
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Spatial Solidarities
WHERE WE ARE
Location, Neighbourhoods, Proximity, Physical Closeness
Transpatial Solidarities
WHO WE ARE
Gender, Age, Profession, Affiliations, Memberships, Interests
The Guildhall, City of London
Spatial and Transpatial Solidarities
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Interplay between Spatial & Transpatial – Example 1
Organisational Cultures in the British Museum
High levels of local integration yet global segregation → distinct org. cultures, segregated spaces allow transpatial identities to flourish
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Lack of local identities in a Media Company
“Brands need to own their space and feel separate to other brands. If you walk around the office you would never know where you are unless you already know people. This doesn't enable people to make new friends or contacts.”
High levels of global integration and uniform workstation layout → lack of identities, disregard of transpatial solidarities
Interplay between Spatial & Transpatial – Example 2
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Time-space routines and social cohesion in Research Institute
High levels of global integration → emergence of social cohesion and contacts fostered in transpatially organised clusters
Interplay between Spatial & Transpatial – Example 3
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Spatial and Transpatial Solidarities
Two mechanisms for bonding and social relationships between people:
1. Sharing same local world and coming together in physical space (spatial solidarity);
2. Shared interests or goals, which may overcome / transverse boundaries of physical space (transpatial solidarity);
SPATIAL TRANS-SPATIAL
Virtual Community Real Community
Example: The Guild
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies – Physical and Virtual Spaces
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies
Source: http://xkcd.com/802/
Emergence of ‘Online Communities’
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies – Networked Individualism
Networked Individualism (Rainie and Wellman 2012):
People function as connected individuals; partial membership in multiple networks instead of permanent membership in settled groups;
Made possible by:• Social Network Revolution: opportunities to reach beyond tightly knit groups• Internet Revolution: communication and information-gathering power• Mobile Revolution: accessibility, anywhere and anytime
KINSHIP
PAST SOCIETY: fixed groups
CURRENT / FUTURE SOCIETY: networked individualism
WORK
CHURCHVillage / Town Various spatial scales
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies: Physical and Digital Space
How do people find information? Example: Rosetta Stone at British Museum
OPTION 1:Travel to London, visit British Museum(physical space)
OPTION 2:Go to website of the British Museum(digital space)
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies: Physical and Digital Space
Finding information on Rosetta Stone at British Museum: Option 1 (physical space)
Structured search: looking at map or asking information desk (2-3 steps)Exploratory: finding interesting / relevant exhibits on your own (2-10 steps, possibly more)
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies: Physical and Digital Space
Finding information on Rosetta Stone at British Museum: Option 2 (digital space)
Structured search: typing name of exhibit into search box (2 steps)[Exploratory: clicking through the online collections (3-10 steps, possibly more)]
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies: Physical and Digital Space
Finding information on Rosetta Stone at British Museum
→ different spatial experiences in physical & digital space, but also different social realities
PHYSICAL SPACE DIGITAL SPACE
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Impact of Technologies: Physical and Digital Space
What is the difference between physical space and digital space in enabling the get together of people and allowing communities to flourish?
Complex spatial configuration
Deep or shallow
Relative position or location matters
Distribution of users through spatial configuration / attractors
Unplanned encounter
Co-presence
PHYSICAL SPACE
Simple or no spatial configuration at all
Shallow / flat
Access matters
Distribution of users through access / self-selection process
Structured encounter
Lone activity
DIGITAL SPACE
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Conclusions
Physical space in buildings and cities structures co-presence and interaction patterns of people;
Co-presence of people in space gives rise to ‘virtual community’: raw material of society, awareness and psychological dimension;
Communities emerge from the combination of spatial and transpatial worlds;
Technologies change the way in which people interact, yet physical space remains an important dimension;
Digital space allows online communities to flourish → distinctly different from affordances of physical space and implications for social relationships;
Similarly to Space Syntax which offers a language for discursive and structured analysis of physical space, an approach to systematically investigate the structure and affordances of digital spaces is needed
Architectural Space as a Network Dr Kerstin Sailer, December 2012
Thank you!Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @kerstinsailer
Dr Kerstin Sailer
Lecturer in Complex BuildingsBartlett School of Graduate Studies
University College London14 Upper Woburn Place
London WC1H 0NNUnited Kingdom