Investigating Variations in Space Syntax Indicators for Semi-Open Spaces and their Effect on the Functional Efficiency of Housing (Traditional and Modern Houses of Isfahan, Iran)

Semi-open spaces have played the role of in-between spaces for closed and open spaces, which have connected inside and outside, and increased the functional quality of these spaces next to each other. The role of semi-open spaces in the transformation trend of traditional to modern houses has unfortunately been neglected to lose their importance for the functional efficiency of housing. Hence, this study aims to investigate the functional efficiency of semi-open spaces in this historical trend based on the space syntax indicators for these spaces. Isfahan City was selected as a case study due to its historical background in housing scope. This study asks how the components of functional efficiency and space syntax indicators of semi-open spaces have changed in Isfahan's houses during different periods. To examine the role of porches and terraces in the houses, 25 traditional houses constructed in Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi eras, and 30 houses constructed over the last 30 years in Isfahan were chosen based on the diversity of semi-open spaces in terms of accessibility, area, connections, and form. Finally, duplicate samples were removed then 9 traditional and 14 modern houses were selected. The results indicated that choice, Isovist area, entropy, and connectivity were increased in semi-open spaces of the Safavid-Qajar eras during an evolutionary trend, which led to higher functional efficiency of houses, and the number of descending indicators were increased from Qajar to Pahlavi period. Moreover, only choice and entropy were increased during Pahlavi Period due to the distributive role of porches and the simplicity of spatial organization, respectively. From Pahlavi to the modern period, the smaller size of semi-open spaces, fewer accessibilities, lack of desired organization of spaces, and construction in floors led to a reduction in connectivity, integration, and Isovist area, and even increased control reduced the quality of private modern terraces, which all of the mentioned factors have led to the lower functional performance of houses in modern time.