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To Take Hold of Space: Isovists and Isovist Fields
Abstract
The environment is defined as a collection of visible real surfaces in space. An isovist is the set of all points visible from a given vantage point in space and with respect to an environment. The shape and size of an isovist is liable to change with position. Numerical measures are proposed that quantify some salient size and shape features. These measures in turn create a set of scalar isovist fields. Sets of isovists and isovist fields form an alternative description of environments. The method seems relevant to behavioral and perceptual studies in architecture, especially in the areas of view control, privacy, ‘defensibility’, and in dynamic complexity and spaciousness judgements. Isovists and isovist fields also shed light on the meaning of prevalent architectural notions about space. In the latter role it is hoped that an information-field theory such as the one presented can help provide fruitful common ground for designers and researchers.
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Cited by
From Isovists to Visibility Graphs: A Methodology for the Analysis of Architectural Space
Turner, A., Doxa, M., O'Sullivan, D., & Penn, A. (2001) · Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design · doi:10.1068/b2684 · Cited by 969
Space Syntax: A Brief Introduction to Its Logic and Analytical Techniques
Bafna, S. (2003) · Environment and Behavior · doi:10.1177/0013916502238863 · Cited by 511
Extending GIS-based visual analysis: the concept of visualscapes
Llobera, M. (2003) · International Journal of Geographical Information Science · doi:10.1080/713811741 · Cited by 404
Up the down staircase: Wayfinding strategies in multi-level buildings
Hölscher, C., Meilinger, T., Vrachliotis, G., Brösamle, M., & Knauff, M. (2006) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.09.002 · Cited by 350
A computational approach to ‘The Image of the City’
Filomena, G., Verstegen, J. A., & Manley, E. (2019) · Cities · doi:10.1016/j.cities.2019.01.006 · Cited by 151
Metadata
- Authors
- Benedikt, M. L.
- Venue
- Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1979-03
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-65
- ISSN
- 0265-8135 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-3417
- OpenAlex
- W2149041888
- Cited by
- 1,021
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 2.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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