Urban Architecture
akram esfandiari; Abbas Tarkashvand
Abstract
Like any other construction, a residential complex contains perceptual load for citizens as well as space and physical entity. Visual quality plays an essential role in the formation of this perceptual load. Thus, the perceptual function of a residential complex is dependent to a large extent on visual ...
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Like any other construction, a residential complex contains perceptual load for citizens as well as space and physical entity. Visual quality plays an essential role in the formation of this perceptual load. Thus, the perceptual function of a residential complex is dependent to a large extent on visual quality, which is considered qualitative, so the analysis involves plenty of complication. Isovist analyses and sightlines provide an efficient means of analysis and assessment of visual quality through quantitative methods. A review of the theories and studies presented in the field of isovist tools indicates their significance in the analysis of constructed environments based on the visual perception of the audience. This research provides an explanation of the relationship between isovist indicators and spatial experience. On the other hand, concern for visual privacy, which is a major aspect of the visual quality of the environment, is related to overlook. Moreover, whether the residential space is overlooked by surrounding buildings is an essential factor in specification of the interior space quality of a residential unit. The purpose of this study was to provide a method of using isovist tools and sightlines in the process of assessing the visual quality of residential complexes. The research was conducted in the city of Kermanshah, Iran. To this end, residential complexes located in Kermanshah were first typologized and categorized using analyses of form based on a quantitative method. For prevention of the inconsistency of the urban spaces around the complexes from functioning as an interfering factor, the shapes of the obtained types were then homogenized with the normalization method, and the spatial-physical quality of the normalized types was measured using Spacemate. In the next step, visual quality was assessed using isovist tools based on criteria including area, thrust angle, maximum line of sight, and circumscription, and quantitative data were extracted. Finally, the correlation between the data collected from the visual quality measurements and those obtained from the analysis of the spatial-physical quality of the types was examined and analyzed. The results demonstrated that each of the residential complex types involved specific visual quality indicators and sightlines that compared quantitatively and qualitatively with the other types. Moreover, the isovist indicators, which represented the visual quality of the types, correlated with their spatial indicators. This demonstrated the validity of the proposed method in isovist and sightline analysis for assessment of the visual quality of residential complexes, and illustrated the use of the Spacemate charts for that purpose. This research could not assign any of the types absolute or relative superiority in terms of visual quality; however, it analyzed the visual characteristics of each, thereby providing designers with a tool to include the desired visual qualities in their designs. The results of the research can be used potentially in the design of residential complex sites and, consequently, affect the quality of residential plans.
Urban Design
Yones Changalvaiee; Mostafa Behzadfar; Mahmud Mohhamadi; Zahra Sadat Saeideh Zarabadid
Abstract
As an interface between humans and their peripheral environment, urban form is the embodiment of formative and transformative flows of the built form. Energy flows of urban form production, operation and maintenance lead to the generation and transformation of built form which is the transmitter of information ...
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As an interface between humans and their peripheral environment, urban form is the embodiment of formative and transformative flows of the built form. Energy flows of urban form production, operation and maintenance lead to the generation and transformation of built form which is the transmitter of information flows, such as visual and perceptual flows, between humans as receptor and the built environment. On this basis, continuous and integrated interactions between humans and the living environment is considered as energy operational flows of environmental comfort (heating and cooling energy demand) and informational flows of perception, cognition and evaluation of the built form (focusing on visual interaction) which are the two generic flows of built form in relation with humans. These relations and interconnections between energy and information flows are excavated based on the Eco Efficient Urban Form (EEUF) model. The present research aims to explore the relationship between these two flows and the built form based on two distinct states of occlusivity factor: distribution of built elements in vertical plane (Adolphe occlusivity factor for operational energy flows), and Benedikt occlusivity factor for visual information flows which demonstrates the interconnections between the horizontal built elements perimeter map and visual sight flows. The analytical content of the study was chosen from the morphological aspects of Isfahan in the form of ten morphological types presenting general morphological trends of Isfahan. With regard to these, results indicate that there is an inverse correlation between the two states of occlusivity: occlusivity in vertical planes for energy performances and occlusivity in horizontal planes for sustainable visual information flows between built form and humans. The results reveal that the fabrics with organic morphological aspects and structure have a higher value in terms of energy performance occlusivisty factor, especially effective for decreasing heating energy demand in cold seasons, and a lower value in terms of isovist occlusivity factor, indicating higher value of isovist compactness leading to coherency in visual information flows. Hence, the results indicate that the integration between two generic flows of sustainable urban form is demonstrable for old tissues with old organic morphological patterns. The main contribution of the study is to confirm the relationship and interconnection between generic flows of energy and information as the key content of EEUF model.The research is focused on the operational mode of energy flows (indoor energy demand) and the visual interactions of information flows. Finally, future research should therefore concentrate on the investigation of the integrity between perceptional aspects of urban form and outdoor environmental comfort as the main characteristics of urban form environmental performance in the form of EEUF model. It is worth to mention that the study is mostly focused on the environmental performance and morphological configuration in hot and arid climate. Therefore, other effective parameters such as structures, visual proportion of vertical facades, aesthetic aspects, meaning of place, environmental preferences, sense of place, etc. necessitate further investigations in the future. Reanalysis of the study model according to the new types of morphological units and other climates as well as addressing perceptional aspects can provide valuable results for developing sustainable urban form frameworks.
