Explaining the Principle of Semi-Public Transition Space Formation in the Neighborhood Spatial Organization

Abstract

Space is the key element in designing and dealing with urban places. Throughout history, urban space has been an integral part of cities’ physical organization and functional condition of the variables. However, during the past years, the neighborhood spatial organization has included a wide range of private and public spaces linked together in spatial hierarchy. But nowadays, eliminating spatial hierarchy is one of the urban issues regarded as semi-public space (i.e., transition spaces between public and private) as well the disappearance of the space connectivity. Hence, when a person departs from his/her house, the moment the door closes behind, he is isolated from the world that he belongs to since there is no continuity or readiness for the person to depart from private space and enter the crowded urban space. This needs preparedness which in urban space design is created by observing and applying a set of principles generally contributing to the quality that stimulates human senses in the neighborhood. In today's urban spatial organization, ignoring these valuable principles of spatial design creates a neighborhood without transitional spaces. Applying a descriptive method, this study explains the principle of semi-public transition spaces achieved through the following four principles of spatial hierarchy, i.e., rhythm, privacy, territory and heterogenics of space in the neighborhood. Applying these principles in design leads to the establishment of intermediate and semi-public spaces in the neighborhood’s spatial organization as the aim of urban design is to improve the quality of environment.