Thermal Comfort, Behavioral Mapping And Space Syntax Analysis Of Outdoor Spaces In A Suburban Campus

Abstract

The high young population rate in Turkey has led to the development of new universities at the periphery. In terms of facilities provided and population hosted, these campuses can be referred as micro urban settlements. Hence, it is critical to investigate the relationship between units and the spatial performance of outdoor spaces particularly in suburban campuses, since they do not only provide educational service but also living areas as well. Within this context, the study involves both outdoor thermal comfort, behavioral and space syntax analyses in order to analyze outdoor physical conditions of a campus settled at the periphery of the city. There are three methods used in the study. First, used/under-used outdoor spaces in the campus were determined through users' behavioral mapping in selected open spaces. Second, the degree to which "how comfortable users are in that place they experienced" has been investigated through questionnaires. Third, spatial configuration of outdoor spaces was evaluated through space syntax methodology to determine the integrated and segregated spaces within the campus. Overlapping the results of these methods opportunities are proposed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the campus design and to develop design strategies for potential improvements.