Visualising the Structure of Architectural Open Spaces Based on Shape Analysis

Title: Visualising the Structure of Architectural Open Spaces Based on Shape Analysis

Research Question: How can shape analysis be used to visualise the structure of architectural open spaces?

Methodology: The study used shape analysis to visualise the structure of architectural open spaces. It focused on two main methods: isovist computation and shape descriptors. The isovist computation involved drawing rays from a viewpoint at very fine angles and collecting the distance to the obstacles. Shape descriptors such as convexity and skeleton were calculated to visualise the open space structure. Additionally, the paper proposed the use of dominant lines of visibility, known as axial lines, to subdivide the open space into non-overlapping convex subspaces.

Results: The results showed that shape analysis could be used to visualise the structure of architectural open spaces. The isovist computation provided a summary of the entire open space by performing the computation at a number of densely located viewpoints. The paper also demonstrated the calculation of shape descriptors such as convexity and clustering coefficient to visualise the open space structure. Furthermore, the generation of axial lines involved the decomposition of the entire open space into non-overlapping convex subspaces, drawing the minimum number of lines that connected the subspaces.

Implications: The study's implications were significant for understanding the structure of open spaces in architectural design. The use of shape analysis provided an objective and quantifiable approach to study the structure of open spaces, making it possible to analyse complex constructions of built structures. The proposed methods could be applied to various architectural open spaces, offering insights into their design and usage.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0404046v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0404046v1