Architecture Re-Configured

The question of what differentiates architecture and building has been raised many times in Architecture Theory, with various responses or explanations – usually under the precondition that architecture is something more. It is one of the core questions of architecture theory. Inherent in the discussion seems to be how architecture becomes socially significant and how it conveys meaning. Continuing this line of inquiry, this paper examines how and why spatial configuration lies at the heart of architectural design and explores how and why space syntax research contributes to architecture per se. This is argued using a small set of socio-spatial figures commonly used in architectural design that formulate positions and situations based on discrepancies between configurative relations of visibility and accessibility. It is finally suggested that the conscious manipulation of these discrepancies is a core aspect of architectural design.

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