The following analysis are made with the DeCodingSpaces Toolbox for Grasshopper, a collection of analytical and generative components for algorithmic architectural and urban planning, developed by CPlan group.
Corso Buenos Aires betweenness analysis
The video below describes both local and wide area relations that exist within our cities.
The betweenness analysis is a radius-dependant network comprehension tool. The Betweenness, or Choice in Space Syntax terminology, “quantifies the number of times a segment acts as a bridge along the shortest path between two other segments”. This measure is radius dependant because the analysis only considers the segments reachable within a determined distance. The variation of the distance shown in the animation shows the different relations inside the network, with a low radius the local centralities, such as plazas or squares are potentially more reachable, while with a higher radius the main streets become the main connection of the fabric.
Piazza Argentina isovist analysis
Combining quantitative data with design intuitions allows to maximize the outcome of the design process.
The dynamic isovist analysis is a way to plot and to understand the field of view of a walking city user. The spatial setting of the analysis is Piazza Argentina in Milan, the visibility obstacles are the buildings and the walking path is along the sidewalk from Via Stradivari to the square. The analysis colours represent, with a gradient from red to yellow and to green, the visible area and the occlusivity. The visibility area is the total surface visible from point x, the occlusivity, as defined by Benedikt is “the length of the nonvisible radial components separating the visible space from the space one cannot see from point x” and the greater is the value, the more irregular is the isovist shape. A high occlusivity value could mean the presence of obstacles in front of the observer.
This tool is very useful to understand the dynamic perception of the space along a walking path, which is a crucial component to design spaces and guarantee best and intuitive user experience.