A Syntactic Analysis of Spatial
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A SYNTACTIC ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL CONFIGURATION TOWARDS THE UNDERSTANDING OF CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN VERNACULAR LIVING SPACE: A CASE STUDY IN THE UPPER NORTHEAST OF THAILAND By NOPADON THUNGSAKUL A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2001 Copyright 2001 by Nopadon Thungsakul I dedicate this study to my family with love and gratitude and to my professors with profound respect. Completing this dissertation is truly beneficial to me, and I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to a number of people who have been helpful in contributing to the completion of this dissertation. My chairperson, Wayne Drummond, Professor of Architecture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has generously shared his knowledge and experience in directing this research and provided valuable advice. My cochairperson, Dr. Diana H. Bitz, Associate, Professor of Architecture, and my committee members: Dr. H. Russell Bernard, Professor of Anthropology, Maelee T. Foster, Professor Emerita of Architecture, and Peter E. Prugh, Associate Professor of Architecture, inspired me in different ways. Their encouragement and support have made my school years a truly enjoyable experience. The opportunity to work with them and to benefit from their deep knowledge and varied viewpoints has been a valuable experience in my academic career. I am grateful to the Thai Government for generous financial support throughout the years of my graduate studies. Having the opportunity to study abroad has been a memorable learning experience and a wonderful period in my life. These acknowledgments would not be complete without mention of the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University where my teachers, colleagues and students have supported and encouraged me since my initial proposal through my research and analysis until my investigation was completed. Special gratitude is given to my consulting professors in Thailand, Associate Professor Dhiti Hengrasamee and Dr. Monsicha iv Bejranada, for their guidance during the preparation of this study. I greatly appreciate the assistance and advocacy of my friends, Tawat Charoenwutthitham and Chumnan Boonyaputthipong, to whom I am intellectually indebted for their informative conversation on my work. The companionship of Pattravadee Chancham, Wang Li, and David Ogoli gave me a supportive and stimulating atmosphere for study. I also thank my editors, Gerald W. Rock who read the first draft of this dissertation and Jeanne Weismantel who helped me through the writing process. Many thanks are extended to the field research crews and to all the Ban Khwao villagers who dedicated their time to participate in this work and always warmly welcomed my visits in their daily life during the field study. Finally, I give credit to my parents who have provided me with ideal life support, always believing in my search for knowledge and understanding of the people and places of my country. Their care and commitment have made my completion of this study possible. v TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ..............................................................................................................ix LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1 Purpose of Study............................................................................................................. 2 Vernacular in Transition................................................................................................. 3 Vernacular and Modern Design.................................................................................. 3 Consequences of Universal Design Concept .............................................................. 5 The Impacts of Urbanization Process ......................................................................... 7 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 9 Significance of Research............................................................................................... 10 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................................12 Consideration of the Idea of Culture in Built Form...................................................... 12 Spatial Study................................................................................................................. 14 Space and Social Relations ........................................................................................... 16 Architecture, Activity Systems and the Use of Space .................................................. 20 3. RESEARCH SITE .........................................................................................................24 Scope of Research......................................................................................................... 24 Thailand Profile............................................................................................................. 26 The Case Study............................................................................................................. 27 Khon Kaen: The Province and Its Region ................................................................ 27 Ban Khwao: The Village........................................................................................... 29 4. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY .........................................................34 Study Area .................................................................................................................... 34 vi page Sampling Procedure ...................................................................................................... 35 Data Collection ............................................................................................................. 35 Field Survey.............................................................................................................. 35 Archival Research..................................................................................................... 39 Questionnaire Design................................................................................................ 40 Method of Analysis....................................................................................................... 45 Space Syntax Methodology .......................................................................................... 45 Conceptual Approach of Space Syntax..................................................................... 46 Syntactic Analysis of Spatial Configuration............................................................. 48 Previous Research Applied Space Syntax as Analysis Methodology....................... 54 Domestic Experience from Cognitive Research Methodology..................................... 59 Multidimensional Scaling (MDS)............................................................................. 61 Property Fitting (PROFIT)........................................................................................ 62 Classification of House Group by Age Category.......................................................... 63 5. RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ........................................................65 Domestic Space Use...................................................................................................... 65 Under Floor Space .................................................................................................... 65 Multipurpose Space................................................................................................... 66 Verandah Space......................................................................................................... 66 Sleeping Space .......................................................................................................... 70 Yard and Outdoor Space........................................................................................... 70 Toilet and Bathing Space .......................................................................................... 70 Food Preparation Space ............................................................................................ 71 Eating Space.............................................................................................................. 71 Household Service Space.......................................................................................... 73 Syntactic Analysis of Samples...................................................................................... 74 Pattern of Integration ................................................................................................ 75 Pattern of Depth ........................................................................................................ 78 The Correlation of Integration and Depth................................................................