Formal Classification & Spatial Configuration in Vernacular Housing: A Comparative Study on the Zoning of the Reception Area in Traditional Houses of Kerman Province

Space syntax is an approach for reading the socio-spatial configuration in architecture and urban areas in order to understand the social logic of space. This paper aims to classify the formal configuration based on the organization of mass and space in vernacular housing of the Kerman province located in the southern-east part of Iran. The paper also provides the syntactical analysis of space regarding the socio-spatial configuration and explores the spatial configuration and the territory of reception area in traditional houses of the Kerman province. The paper assumes that the spatial territory of the guests is related to the classified types of formal configurations. However, the main questions of the research are: 1. Is it possible to extract the territorial organization from the classified types of formal configuration in vernacular housing? 2. How is the territory of reception area connected to the other spaces in the traditional houses of Kerman, regarding the spatial configuration? 3. How is it possible to explain the spatial configuration in vernacular housing of the Kerman province considering the depth, connectivity and integration of space syntax? The paper is a case study research with a combinational method that has the descriptive, analytical and logical reasoning research methods. In this way, the inquiry uses direct observation, field study, documents review and syntactical simulation using the UCL Depth Map software of space syntax. It is noteworthy to mention that the space syntax analysis refers to the three main concepts called Convex, Axial and Isovist space. However, in this study, the syntactical analysis of the traditional houses of Kerman province has been done by using the Convex and Visibility Graph Analysis) VGA (methods of space syntax. The results of the research demonstrate that variety in the classified types of formal configuration based on the organization of mass and space does not necessarily leads to the variety in the location and socio-spatial territory of reception area in all types of formal classifications; However, in the introverted classification with two or more courtyards and also in the classification that has mass in the all four sides of the one courtyard, there is a difference in socio-spatial configuration and Location of the reception area in comparison with all other types of classifications based on the organization of mass and space in vernacular houses of the Kerman province. Moreover, the syntactical analysis of the courtyards shows that the courtyards in the introverted classification with mass in the all four sides of the one courtyard has the highest rate of connectivity in comparison with all other types of formal configuration. Furthermore, the rooms which are located in the private zone of the house have the highest rate of depth criteria and also the least rate of integrity in comparison with all other types of formal configuration.