Planting Design and Wayfinding for University Campus: Space Syntax as a Landscape Design Assessment Tool

The spatial characteristics of outdoor places are significantly influenced by trees. Using space syntax theory, this study examines how the spatial arrangement created by the suggested trees planting design and wayfinding affects the visual fields of a university campus. These methods are thought to be helpful in determining the proposed space's spatial organization and evaluating design options. An experimental study using three different planting and wayfinding design proposals for a university campus is conducted. The first proposal follows a regular, parallel array of trees and diagonal, symmetrical paths. The second proposal consists of a 5-point pattern of trees and straight and symmetrical paths, and the third proposal applies a random grid pattern of trees and radial paths. Data are analyzed using space syntax techniques. Results reveal a significant effect of planting configurations and wayfinding on syntactic measures across the three proposals. The highest levels of movement can be observed in the 5-point planting plan with straight paths, although radial and curved arrangements of paths and random planting of trees also generate comparably integrated and connected environments. Therefore, this study suggests that space syntax techniques may have a significant value in the assessment of schematic planting design, especially at the user's movement level.