142 abstracts from researchers in 23 countries around the world - including academics from 45 universities - submitted abstracts to Space Syntax Second International Symposium in response to its organisers' call for papers. This represents nearly twice as many submissions for the second symposium compared to the first. These abstracts were reviewed by an international referee committee consisting of leading members of the architectural morphology field including: Professor Thomas Markus, author of Buildings and Power; Professor Philip Steadman, author of Architectural Morphology and the new Bartlett Professor of Planning; and chaired by Professor Bill Hillier of University College London. 72 abstracts were accepted by the referee committee as papers for presentation and publication at the symposium while an additional 41 abstracts were accepted for poster presentation. 23 papers and 7 posters were accepted from researchers and students representing University College London - just over 25% of the total contribution to the symposium. 

Professor Lionel March Agrees to Give Opening Address

Professor Lionel March of the University of California, Los Angeles, USA - one of the founding 'fathers' of the architectural morphology field - has agreed to give the opening address to the symposium. Professor March recently published his latest book, The Architectonics of Humanism (MIT Press, 1998).

1st International Space Syntax Symposium

London, UK April 1997

Symposium Proceedings

In April 1997, the first international symposium on space syntax was held at University College London. The three day event was opened by Sir Norman Foster and attracted 167 delegates from 23 countries all around the world including academics from 38 universities, architects, planners, archaeologists, and others to discuss the latest developments in theory and practice.

Speakers included the originators of space syntax such as Professor Bill Hillier, co-author of The Social Logic of Space with Dr. Julienne Hanson and author of Space is the Machine, Alan Penn of The Bartlett, University College London as well as Dr. John Peponis of the Georgia Institute of Technology, United States. Dr. Hanson chaired a session on Domestic Space and Archaeology.

In his opening address, Sir Norman Foster enthusiastically stated the importance of space syntax in making the link between research and design. 'I am far removed from the academic world, but I know that these techniques work from the tough environment of practice. I love the world of analysis, observation, of research, but also passion, imprecision, the hunch. Space syntax is the testing of the interaction of these opposing worlds.'

Presentations made over the three days varied from the application of space syntax in the commercial sector and office buildings, the physical growth of American cities, research on the relationship between land value and urban morphology in Berlin, spatial analysis of American Indian archaeological remains in the southwest of the United States and new methodological directions for future space syntax research.

In his keynote address to the symposium, entitled 'Therefore the Grid', Professor Hillier addressed a common criticism of space syntax by seeking to reintegrate geometry, which had historically been eliminated through the use of graph theory. He outlined a theory of order which links order, where the spatial pattern can be summarised 'all at once' as in ideal towns, and structure, where spatial patterns reveal themselves through the everyday use of space and movement, whereby order is what the human mind puts into a system and structure is what emerges.

Professor Philip Steadman gave the closing address and laid down a challenge to space syntax researchers, stressing the need for space syntax research to address geometry in solidifying its analytical foundations.

The symposium was organised by the Space Syntax Laboratory, University College London.


Left: Sir Norman Foster giving the opening address to Space Syntax - First Interntional Symposium.
Right: Professor Bill Hillier giving his keynote address at Space Syntax - First Interntional Symposium.


SECOND SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCED IN BRASILIA, 1999
Dr Fred de Holanda named Organiser;
Call for Papers made in January 1998

At the conclusion of the inaugural symposium in London it was announced that Space Syntax - Second International Symposium will be held from 29 March to 2nd April 1999 in the city of Brasilia, Brazil. It is being organised by the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Brasilia with the co-sponsorship of the Space Syntax Laboratory. As with the first symposium the aim of the symposium will be to bring together the researchers and designers in many countries who are currently using space syntax techniques, to make and hear presentations of recent work, to take part in discussions of theoretical and methodological issues, and to explore directions for future research.

Because space syntax constitutes a major area of research in various Brazilian as well as other Latin American universities, it was decided that Space Syntax - Second International Symposium would be held in Brazil. Also, because of the internationally acknowledged importance of modern architecture and urbanism in Brazil, Brasilia was chosen as the site of the symposium. An afternoon session of the symposium will be dedicated to the use of space syntax in Brazil. Dr Fred de Holanda was choosen as Symposium Organiser. For further information see the world wide web site at http://www.unb.br/fau/eventos/2sss
In January, the organisers of the symposium made a general call for papers from researchers, academics, architects, planners and anyone who has applied space syntax methodology in their field of expertise. They are especially interested in papers which detail the innovative use of space syntax techniques in researching theoretical and practical issues of the built environment, the use of the methodology for research in related fields and its application in design and planning projects in any part of the world. Contributions are invited for abstracts between 100 and 200 words, and completed papers between 2000-5000 words, written in English on the following themes:

· Theoretical and Methodological Development
· Modern Architecture and Urban Design
· Urban Analysis
· Complex Buildings
· Domestic Space
· Applications in Other Fields
· Applications in Design

As before, abstracts and papers will be blind-refereed and selected by an international committee. Abstracts must be received by 30 May 1998 and the completed paper by 30 October 1998. Successful submissions will be notified by post at the beginning of December 1998. Information on format instructions will be sent after abstracts have been received. Papers will compose the bound symposium proceedings which will be available during the symposium. A selection of the best papers will be published in Special Issues on Space Syntax in the Journal of Architectural and Planning Research and Urban Design International. Some papers presented at the symposium will published in Space Syntax II. Three copies of abstracts and papers should be sent to the Symposium Organiser, Dr Frederico de Holanda, at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Brasilia. Submissions received after the deadline dates will not be considered.

The deadline is now only a month away so be sure to get those abstracts in as soon as possible. Contact Dr Fred de Holanda for information at fredhol@guarany.cpd.unb.br



Dr Fred de Holanda was selected to organise Space Syntax - Second International Symposium in Brasilia, 1999.

VOLUME 3 DUE SOON
Special Issues on Space Syntax Completed

Luiz Amorim, Reem Zako, Mark David Major and Professor Bill Hillier at University College London have been working feverishly to complete the editing and formating on Volume III of the Space Syntax - First International Symposium Proceedings, and the Environment and Planning B and Computers, Environments and Urban Systems special issues on space syntax.

The Environment and Planning B special issue on space syntax is complete and has been delivered to the publishers. Projected publication is currently slated for Winter, 1999. The papers selected for publication in this special issue are: 'The Reasoning Art' (Hillier and Hanson); 'Space Syntax and the Dutch City' (Read); 'Berlin in Transition' (Desyllas); 'The Space of Innovation' (Penn, Desyllas and Vaughan); 'The Spatial Dimensions of Control in Restrictive Settings' (Peatross); 'The Morphology of Exploratory and Encounter in Museum Layouts' (Choi); 'The Dinner Procession Goes to the Kitchen' (Trigueriro); 'Space, Evolution and Function in the Houses of Chaco Canyon' (Bustard); 'The Urban Ghetto' (Vaughan); and 'Why Space Syntax Works', formerly entitled 'Therefore the Grid' (Hillier).

The Computers, Environments and Urban Systems special issue is in the last stages of editing and should be delivered to the publishers by the end of April. Projected publication is currently slated for Autumn, 1999. The papers selected for publication in this special issue are: 'The Spatial Logic of Organic Cities in Iran and the United Kingdom' (Karimi); 'Socio-spatial Analysis of Four University Campuses in Santiago' (Penn and Greene); 'Revisiting John Portman's Peachtree Center Complex in Atlanta' (Rashid); 'Strategic Space' (Campos); 'Effects of Street Grid Configuration on Kerbside Concentrations of Vehicular Emissions' (Pe
nn and Croxford); 'Intelligent Architecture' (Penn et al); and 'Integrated Multi-level Circulation Systems (IMCS) in Dense Urban Areas' (Penn and Chang).

Volume III of the proceedings has been completed with the exception of one paper and a dozen diagrams in the published version of Sir Norman Foster's opening address to the symposium. The revised version of Laurel Cooper's paper on the houses of Chaco Canyon, Guido Stegen 's paper on the use of space syntax in planning and additional papers by Stephen Read and John Peponis all appear in this thrid volume. People should start to receive this third volume in the post this summer. We apologise for taking so long in completing it. If your paper does not appear in either of the special issues, decisions are still to be taken on those papers composing the forthcoming book arising out of the symposium, so stay tuned.

FACES IN THE CROWD
at Space Syntax - First International Symposium







Clockwise from the upper left: Assistant Organiser, Georgia Spiliopoulou, and Organiser, Mark David Major (in background) manning the busy registration desk on the second day of the symposium; Dr Julienne Hanson has a few words to say while chairing the Domestic Space/Archaeology session; Centre (left to right) Beatriz de Campos, Professor Bill Hillier and Dr Frieda Peatross enjoying the atmosphere of the symposium dinner on the evening of the first day; Alan Penn presenting 'The Space of Innovation' on the second day of the symposium; Dr Jason Shapiro presenting later that day his paper on using space syntax in archaeology in the North Rio Grande region of the United States.

DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMEN ADD TO THE SYMPOSIUM'S SUCCESS

The symposium greatly benefited from the input of a number of distinguished guests who were asked to chair individual sesions. Dr Julienne Hanson, one of the originators of space syntax research, chaired the second day session on Domestic Space/Archaeology as well as taking part in the discussion session at the end of this day with Professor Bill Hillier.

Additional sessions were chaired by Richard Burdett of the London School of Economics, former director of The Architecture Foundation responsible for the Evening Standard Debates on the Future of London; Professor Thomas Markus, author of Buildings and Power, who chaired a session on Complex Buildings; and Professor Philip Steadman of The Open University, author of Architectural Morphology, who chaired a session on Methodology and closed the symposium. Also serving as chairs were Dr. Mario Kruger of Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; Dr. Frederico de Holanda of Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil; and Dr. Paul Densholm of the Department of Geography at University College London.

INTERNATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED

Seeking to build on the success of Space Syntax - First International Symposium, an international steering committee has been established. The objectives of this steering committee will be oversee and direct the staging of international symposia and designate universities the right to stage symposia using the Space Syntax - International Symposium title.

Professor Bill Hillier, Professor of Architectural and Urban Morphology at University College London, was elected Chairman and Mark David Major, Symposium Organiser of Space Syntax - First International Symposium, was elected Secretariat. Mark David Major is the Course Director of the MSc Built Environment: Advanced Architectural Studies, also at UCL.

At a meeting during the inaugural symposium its first order of business was to select the hosts for Space Syntax - Second International Symposium. The committee selected the University of Brasilia, in cooperation with Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Universidade de São Paulo and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, to host the symposium to be held 29 March - 2 April 1999 in the city of Brasilia. Dr Fred de Holanda will serve as Symposium Organiser.

Also at this meeting the International Referee Committee for Space Syntax - Second International Symposium was expanded and agreed. Joining the committee are Professor P S Brandon of the University of Salford in England, Dr Romulo Krafta of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Professor Thomas A Markus, Emeritus Professor of the University of Strathclyde, Scotland and author of Buildings and Power, and Dr Circe Gama Monterio of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil.

Space Syntax International Steering Committee

Professor Bill Hillier,
University College London, England Chairman
Dr Frederico de Holanda
Universidade de Brasilia, Brasil
Margarita Greene
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Dr Julienne Hanson
University College London, England
Dr Mario Kruger
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Alan Penn
University College London, England
Dr John Peponis
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Tim Stonor
Space Syntax Laboratory, England
Mark David Major
University College London, England Secretariat

Space Syntax International Refereeing Committee

Professor Bill Hillier
University College London, England Chairman
Professor Mike Batty
University College London, England
Professor P S Brandon
University of Salford, England
Dr Frederico de Holanda
Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil
Dr Julienne Hanson
University College London, England
Dr Romulo Krafta
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Dr Mario Kruger
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Professor Thomas A Markus
Emeritus Professor University of Strathclyde, Scotland
Dr Circe Gama Monterio
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
Alan Penn
University College London, England
Dr John Peponis
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Professor Philip Steadman
The Open University, England



Left: Professor Philip Steadman, author of Architectural Morphology, giving his closing address at the symposium.

Right: Dr John Peponis presenting his paper, 'Geometries of Architectural Description' on the last day of the symposium.

THANKING OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR PART IN OUR SUCCESS

Space Syntax - First International Symposium could not have been a success without the generous support of many people including our sponsors (listed below). We would like to take this opportunity to thank them once again for their help in staging this event. Without you, it would not have happened.

Foster and Partners · Stanhope PLC · Sarkpoint Reprographics · Bennetts Associates · UCL Graduate School · UCL Friends Trust · Buschow Henley Architects · Brookes Stacey Randall Fursdon Architects · FaulknerBrowns Architects · Avanti Architects Limited · Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis · Environment And Planning B · Computers, Environment And Urban Systems · Virtual Reality Centre for The Built Environment