Space Syntax

Space Syntax is a theory of architecture and built environment that seeks to explain the effect of spatial configurations on behavioral patterns of people. SYNTACTIC tools bring Space Syntax theory into parametric design workflows. More information on syntactic design methodology:

My PhD dissertation (see chapters 3 & 4)

Designing with Space Syntax

Syntactic Design Methodology

For more information, videos, news and updates you can visit the following website. 

See a video demo-tutorial here

The plugin is available for download here: https://genesis-lab.dev/products/syntactic/

This plugin is completely compatible with SpiderWeb for Grasshopper and we hereby thank Richard Schaffranek for all we have learned from this extremely useful plugin

NEW VERSION WAS RELEASED ON JANUARY 25, 2015. 

See our newest results these publications:

Voxel Graph Operators

Voxel-Based Spatial Ergonomics Research

Evaluating Spatial Configurations as to their [Adaptive] Reuse Potential

UPDATE: Genesis Lab [webpage][website] is to modernize, open-source, and develop the toolkit starting in December 2021. Stay tuned for updates through my YouTube Channel and ResearchGate

Load Previous Comments
  • Agneesh

    Hey there,

    Not entirely sure, but do you wanna double check that curves are LINES and not a POLYLINES?

  • Fateme Jafari

    Hi Agneesh

    Thank you for your suggestion. I checked all the curves once more but unfortunately it didn't work. 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Have a deadline right now, will get back to your problem on Friday. It has been mentioned before here and I suspect there is the same problem of old/inundated versions of Rhino. Please check the former posts here.  

  • Fateme Jafari

    Hi Pirouz

    I checked my rhino and grasshopper versions and they are not old versions. I have rhino 5 and grasshopper 9.0075. 

  • sarah Ceravolo

    Hello,

    If anyone knows why and how to resolve this issue, the same as posted in Fateme's image below

    1. Solution exception:Method not found: 'Boolean Rhino.

    .Line.EpsilonEquals(Rhino.Geometry.Line, Double)
    Could you please help me?
    Thanks,
    Sarah.
  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Sarah and Fateme, 

    I have seen this error before. the method (said to be missing) is actually from Rhinocommon library and is definitely part of Rhino. As solved before; I guess this is because your Rhino is not up-to-date. To make sure your Rhino is up to date, you can go to Rhino/Tools/Options/Updates and Statistics and press "check now". I hope this helps, otherwise let me know. 

  • Agneesh

    Hi Pirouz,

    If possible could you please reply to my query wrt cardinal directions ?

    Regards

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Agneesh, There are a few components that I have not released yet, simply because one of them doesn't properly function. I have decided to release all in a week or so because some people have been asking for them. Then I will announce a challenge for correcting that one component. I wanted to make a complete package but academic life pressure is too high to allow for that.

    Best regards

  • Rafat Ahmed

    great work Pirouz 

    i wish the best for your bro 

  • Fateme Jafari

    Hi Pirouz

    I checked my Rhino as you said. It shows that my Rhino is up-to-date but the problem still exists. What should I do?

  • sarah Ceravolo

    Hello Pirouz and Fateme,

    Thank you both for your responses,

    I have had the same result with my rhino 5, sorry that I can not help solve it I just would not know where to start...

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Sarah and Fateme, 

    It is somewhat strange, but in any case we will release a new version soon, hopefully with this problem solved. Have spotted a line in our code that might have caused the confusion for some systems. 

    Our plan is to release until September 18. 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Rafat, Thanks for your kind message. Pleased to hear that you have found the tools useful. It is still a work in progress though; far from something I could consider as great :). Best wishes

  • Rafat Ahmed

    Its Brilliant plugin bro, easy to use, functional & clear visual Analysis, we appreciate you works much.

    and just a wish for this plugin, that need more flexibility for large scale & complex projects, bcz when i use it, i found it hard to manipulated.

  • Pirouz Nourian

    new versions of SYNTACTIC and Spider Web are going to be tested in this workshop in London, together with my friend Richard Schaffranek:

    http://www.architecturalgeometry.org/aag14/?page_id=554 

    Generative Syntax in Architecture and Urban Design by Richard Schaffranek (Vienna University of Technology), Pirouz Nourian (TU Delft)

  • Pirouz Nourian

    There is a minor bug in the new release (for London workshop). Just need a couple of free hours and I will release a better version. This version includes all the tools you previously shown in videos including layout with cardinal directions. 

  • wiku

    where can i download the new one

  • wiku

    looking forward to the new releases!!!

  • Azad Hadji K

    Hi Pirouz,

    I am going to analyse an urban space with Space Syntax add-on. I imported the line from openstreetmap. They are not lines they are curves, is it makes any issue? Secondly, when I use axial line graph (ALG) component, the add-on gives me a numbers top of some lines(not all of them) which does not make sense. Finaally, would you please guide me how I can get some graphical outcome of this add-on? Generally speaking, Is there any way to get some sense of how this add-on works? I do appreciate your help mate. Thank you

    Regards,

    Azad

  • mahdi

    Hi Friends

    I've installed the plugin spacesyntax

    But it gives error and does not work anymore

    When I open the example project still gives error

    Please advise your

    سلام دوستان

    من پلاگین spacesyntax را نصب کردم

    اما ارور می ده و کار نمی کنه

    مثال پروژه را وقتی باز می کنم باز هم ارور می ده

    لطفا راهنمایی کنید

  • Edward Whitley

    Hey, so I have tried using the space syntax plug in on my program, and its a pretty intensive program with lots of relationships and different spaces. I have done some preliminary connections and used the plug in. Most of the widgets Ive used seem to be working. The analysis widgets are working very well and providing useful insight into the social aspects of the design. BUT the main problem comes when I try to use the ForceDirectedDrawing widget. It poops out and kinda takes my rhino file with it. ANy suggestions? Please help. I have attached some screen shots and the rhino file and gh file.

    ERRORSLIDESHOW.pdf

    firstProgramSyntax.3dm

    FirstProgramsyntax.gh

  • Ortler Mark

    Hey Edward Whitley, I have the exactly same problem...
    Here, the drawing is also locked; I can't draw anything.
    You found any Solution?

    greets

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi, let me answer one by one:

    @ Azad: you can only work with lines (axial lines crossing each other) I don't think you can immediately convert OSM street centerlines to axial lines. This has a number of probelms, most important of which is methodological. Graph theoretical distance used in Space Syntax measurements (the ones I have implemented) is based on the idea of measuring the [cognitive] steps one takes from one space to another. In architectural configuration these spaces (spatial units) are conventionally considered as convex spaces or let us say rooms. In urban configurations, streets are considered as the [public] space and axial lines are to represent them as the spatial units. In general if you are going to do a large scale urban computation, you can use DepthMap or Depthmapx (the original Space Syntax software application). The main reason I added the Axial-Line Graph component was to use it for education. You cannot yet get visualizations or efficient calculations at urban scale using this one. But please do a bit of research about the methodical problem I mentioned above before going to any other software. This is not a technical problem. 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    @ Mahdi:

    You have not posted the error message but I guess most probably it's saying something like the method X doesn't exist in Rhino. I have seen the same problem many times... the solution is to make sure your Rhino is updated. You can go to Rhino/Options/Updates to do so. 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    @ Edward:

    Hi, first of all note that the graph drawing algorithm is not guaranteed to work always, especially if the input graph is non-planar, there is no such proof for any force-directed graph drawing and ours is not an exception. If you are only trying the software with random points and random connections to see if it works then I assure you it won't work for just any combination of points lines and areas. It is simulating a physical system of disks attracted to one another if there should be a link between them. If one disk or coin doesn't fit in between it's neighbors (the problem of area) then of course the algorithm fails because you are trying the impossible. And if the graph is non-planar per se, which is your case, then again it fails. It of course happens in real-world architectural bubble diagrams that they don't constitute a planar graph, simply because there are many buildings that can only be built with the same abstract configuration in more than one floor. But in this case, you can divide the graph into planar components and proceed. I believe We have mentioned these points in the help text of the component itself. Please have a look.  

  • Pirouz Nourian

    @ Ortler:

    Please read my answer to Edward; most probably the same issue. 

  • Ortler Mark

    Hey Pirouz Nourian,

    Thanks for the fast reply.
    Im not the Graph-Expert but I guess that my Graph is planar(topological).
    No Loops at all, but some intersections of the (real/drawn) edges... 

    Without Loops, shouldn't it possible to remap it?

     
    I get the point of your post addressed to Edward, but I do not understand why the component fails in my case.

    Can u have a look at it and tell me what I can do to get it work?

    greets Mark

    FlaechenAnalyse.zip

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Ortler, You're welcome. I just checked your file; I understand it is a case of analysis of an already existing plan. You need a nice graph drawing if I am not mistaken. Right? Even if the graph is planar, still you need to have a combination of area values to make a kissing-disks or coin-graph drawing. In some nodes you have too many connections to a node that means for the disks to kiss each other that node must be significantly bigger than all its neighbors. Similar problems might arise when one big coin is supposed to be trapped in the middle of a bunch of small coins. I understand this might be frustrating because you already see a feasible planar drawing of this graph as your plan. But note that for circles to meet each other in this way these challenges exist. In general you need to provide a set of area values to make the kissing disk drawing possible. In order to do this, I would either break the graph in parts and approach one by one or try to lower the repulsion force and then put numbers one by one such that their combination would produce a feasible planar configuration of coins. No easy way in either case. Having said all this, please note that if you don't manage to draw a graph with this component it doesn't mean that you cannot use analysis components. I started recognizing the points that connect to many other and giving them a higher area; lowering the repulsion and limiting the iterations at the same time, this way you can produce some acceptable bubble drawings and proceed easier -perhaps. Now they are closing the faculty building and kicking everyone out... FlaechenAnalyse_PZN_Ed.gh

  • Edward Whitley

    Hey, so I have deleted a couple connections in the program, and I have manipulated the attraction and repulsion inputs, and I have seemed to solve the problem... unfortunately it is still a little touch and go if I move those sliders too much. But ultimately Im getting a pretty great output I think. Thank you so much Pirouz, for the help and the program. 

    Here is my new file:

    2ndProgramSyntax.3dm

    2Programsyntax.gh

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Edward, happy to hear that. Looks like you have pushed it to the limit :)

    Still a few coins don't fit around their hubs, but yes if you let them relax by lowering repulsion you can get a result. Good luck with the rest. 

  • Frane Zilic

    Hi Pirouz

    First of all thank you very much for the plugin. I installed and used it in another computer and it was fine but in mine it gives me this error...

    An error occured during GHA assembly loading:
    Path: C:\Users\Frane\AppData\Roaming\Grasshopper\Libraries\SpaceSyntax_for_GenerativeDesign.gha
    ―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
    The GHA file is either damaged or has been made with
    a newer version of .NET than Grasshopper itself.
    You can try toggling the "Memory Load" option in the
    GrasshopperDeveloperSettings command window, it might help.
    ――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

    Any idea why?

    Thanks again

  • Frane Zilic

    Hi Pirouz

    I feel stupid... I thought I tried toggling "Memory Load" and it didn't work... I did it now and it works. 

    So thanks anyway

    Bye

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Frane, 

    Happy to hear that it works now; but could you please tell me how exactly you opened this developer settings window?

    Best,

    Pirouz

  • Frane Zilic

    Hi Pirouz.

    It works but I have to do it every time I start GH.

    You can open the window with the "GrasshopperDevelopperSettings" command in Rhino. 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Frane, reading the error message again; I get the impression that your GH is not up to date... correct?

  • Frane Zilic

    Hi Pirouz

    no. I have the latest GH version & latest rhino release running on windows 8.1. 
  • Pirouz Nourian

    Strange! Anyway I am planning to release a new version with a small bug fix soon; in this version I will take care of a few issues related to the .Net and Rhinocommon version. Hopefully it will be solved. I need to think about it more... 

  • Tata fontes

    Hi,

    Pirouz thanks so much for all the work. Do you think you can upload the new version, that you refered earlier, the space syntax layout with cardinal directions? Thanks

  • Dario

    Dear Pirouz,

    i would like to ask a suggestion to you beacuse is impossible to figure out the error of my Diskograph component.

    basically I have a distributiion with 29 points and connections among them. I tested a definition with 4 points and working fine, but adding more points the NGV output is giving a strange codification of the point coordinates.

    I will be very glad to hear from you.

    Thanks in advance

    Dario

    error.jpg 

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Dario, just responded via email.  

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Tata, thanks for your kind words. I just need a few hours free to finalize a new version. This week is quite hectic, hopefully next week I will share the new version. 

  • Tata fontes

    Hi Pirouz! Any news on the new version?

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi Tata, I made some last changes to the latest version on Sunday, it's basically ready but I need a few more hours to rebuild the assembly and publish. Soon...

  • Mathias s n

    Hi, it says download link is down ..

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Hi all, the new version is now available at: https://sites.google.com/site/pirouznourian/syntactic-design?pli=1

    There might be a little issue with the visualization of disks (they might have been turned into dark colors); haven't figured out yet what it is. But there is a simple solution for the time being: zoom on your work from your perspective view-port and change the name of this view port to TOP.

    Apart from this, make sure you read the notes on the new components. One of them is just a dummy place holder. 

  • Rafat Ahmed

    Big Thanks Prof Nourian, its really very useful, and am one of those who is waiting it.

    Really i appreciate your Time & Effort.

  • Pirouz Nourian

    Thanks Rafat for your compliments. I would love to be a professor but I'm just "a simple kid with a simple passion for simple things" :) technically still a PhD researcher/instructor!  Hope the new version is running smoothly. 

  • Leonardo Roli

    Hi Pirouz, I'm using Space Syntax to configure the functional layout in an urban design project. 
    I've noticed that with a quite high range of functions and especially when all this elements have too many interconnections between them, it became really hard to obtain a clear configuration. For ex in my case I've got 13 functions with more than 30 connections, but the result is incomprehensible, as you can see from the image.

    I've tried to search a previous conversation about this issue, but I didn't found a solution. Am I making some mistakes or do I pretend to use too many imputs? Do you have any suggestion?

    Thank you!!

  • Richard Schaffranek

    Hallo Leonardo,

    I might not be able to suggest anything but I would like to point out two things:

    Syntactic is using force-directed graph drawing (as fare as I know). This comes with certain restraint:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force-directed_graph_drawing

    Secondly it might be that you graph ain't planar:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarity_testing

    Maybe this helps.

  • Leonardo Roli

    Hi Richard, thanks for the tips.. I've checked and all the points and lines are planar.. 

    So, does anyone has suggestions on how fix this issue?