Spatium

In the field of morphological research, the relationship systems between small settlements, especially the situation of villages along borders, remain a grey area to this day. This is despite the location and nature of borders between countries having a profound impact on the fate of the settlements along them. This research seeks to answer the question of how the physical network connections and population indicators of a given, typically small settlement area have changed, with particular regard to the border situation. The sample area for the research is the Őrség region, located on the western border of Hungary and the eastern border of Slovenia. The research uses space syntax analysis to explore the network interrelationships of the settlements concerned. The study proposes a new classification-based method for interpreting the space syntax model at the regional level. With this tool, the spatial roles of settlements in the examined region were analyzed across three time periods, and the main hubs were identified, as well as the strength of their roles, and their temporal and spatial development. The results were compared with the population characteristics of the region, thereby identifying the most disadvantaged settlements. With its rural theme and regional approach, the research represents an innovation in space syntax analysis at an international level.

Urban sprawl has become one of the most prominent spatial phenomena in rapidly urbanizing cities, generating profound effects on the ecological environment, economic efficiency, and social sustainability. However, the comprehensive influence of urban sprawl on human settlements remains insufficiently studied in rapidly urbanizing regions of East Asia, particularly in Chinese cities. This paper investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of urban sprawl in Hangzhou, China, from 2014 to 2023, and evaluates its impacts on human settlements using Wu Liangyong’s five-system framework. Land use data derived from remote sensing imagery and statistical sources were analyzed with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Shannon entropy model, and the Sprawl Index to measure the intensity, direction, and equilibrium of the sprawl. A weighted index system based on the entropy weight method and Stepwise Regression analysis was employed to assess human settlement responses across five subsystems: Natural, Human, Social, Living, and Supportive Networks. Results reveal that Hangzhou experienced a significant expansion of its built-up areas, primarily through the conversion of cultivated land and woodland. The urban structure shifted from a monocentric to a polycentric pattern, with the main urban core approaching saturation and new growth concentrated in suburban centers and along transportation corridors. The Comprehensive Settlement Index improved markedly, with the Supportive Network and Living Systems most sensitive to sprawl, while the Natural System lagged behind due to ecological degradation. These findings highlight the dual role of sprawl – enhancing social and infrastructural systems while weakening ecological resilience – and underscore the necessity of integrated planning strategies to balance urban development with environmental sustainability.

This paper examines the concept of negative space in architecture, with the aim of determining its structural, perceptual, and organisational roles within architectural composition. The study addresses the lack of a unified theoretical framework in which negative space is treated as an active architectural element rather than a residual by-product of form. The central hypothesis of the research is that negative space becomes architecturally meaningful only when it possesses clearly defined geometric boundaries, perceptual legibility, and an organisational role within the composition. These conditions enable its recognition as an active component of architectural structure. The paper develops a framework that integrates formal, phenomenological, and perceptual interpretations of the relationship between solid and void. The methodology relies on qualitative analysis of selected architectural examples, evaluated through criteria that distinguish three positional types of negative space: internal, peripheral, and external negative space. The findings confirm the hypothesis, demonstrating that negative space influences spatial hierarchy, visual clarity, and ambient qualities, and therefore operates as a formative principle rather than a passive absence. The study further identifies limitations of the concept, particularly in dense urban contexts and in culturally diverse models of spatial perception. These observations indicate the need for future empirical work focused on user perception and applied case studies. The paper thus provides a coherent basis for advancing methodological tools and for incorporating negative space more systematically into contemporary architectural design practice.

This article examines contemporary residential interiors as adaptive systems shaped by spatial organization, material composition, and the integration of digital technologies. The study is based on the hypothesis that residential environments designed with flexibility, sensory comfort, and supportive technologies have a measurable positive impact on occupants’ well-being, productivity, and daily routines. The aim of the research is to identify and systematize key design principles that define high-quality contemporary housing. The methodological framework combines qualitative analysis of scientific literature published between 2021 and 2025, a review of international residential comfort standards (including WELL for Residential), and comparative analysis of contemporary interior design solutions using digital spatial modeling tools. The results demonstrate that effective residential interiors prioritize adaptability through mobile furniture, concealed storage, multi-scenario lighting, and zoning strategies that allow rapid functional transformation, while maintaining visual calm through natural materials, biophilic elements, and restrained aesthetics. Digital modeling tools are shown to enhance spatial efficiency and support everyday household routines without dominating the living environment. The scientific contribution of the article lies in framing the residential interior as a user-centered, dynamic system in which spatial flexibility, material quality, and technology are integrated to support personal autonomy, privacy, and contemporary life rhythms.

This paper uses affordance theory and the 4EA approach – extended, embodied, embedded, enacted, and affective cognition – to show how embodied cognition and environmental affordances shape urban memory. The activation of urban senses through affordances highlights how technological apparatuses can express what already exists in experiences, but is yet to be examined. The narrative flow of the city, beginning with operative behaviours and roles, is enhanced and complemented by student sketches of the urban fabric, driven by structural elements, which together evoke a similar sense of memory but in different ways. Drawing on students’ narratives and sketches of Alacahan, a historic khan in Trabzon, Türkiye, the paper explores how architecture can affectively shape and be shaped by urban actors. Consequently, this paper suggests a theoretical and pedagogical framework based on sketches and narratives as technological apparatuses to investigate how vital memories and habits of urban fabrics enable new meanings and values to produce urban appropriation and sustainability. The sensory landscape of Alacahan, with its rhythm of copper work, cool air, sharp metallic scents, and the reverberations of timber and stone, collectively forms a living, multisensory urban memory. This framework shows that architectural experience and its dynamic habits persist in sketches, stories, and activities, embedding architecture in embodied cognition.

This study analyzes the relationship between road connectivity and economic development in 273 municipalities in Veracruz and Puebla, Mexico. Using spatial statistics and correspondence analysis, it examines how road infrastructure (inter-municipal and internal-road connectivity) facilitates territorial integration, market access, and the reduction of inequalities. The findings highlight three key elements: 1) Economic diversification across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, supported by micro and small firms, forms the basis of regional development; 2) Road connectivity is a crucial enabler of economic complementarity between urban and rural municipalities; 3) A unique productive ecosystem is generated, in which the spatial interaction between the road network and intermediate cities shapes a polycentric and endogenous development model. The study concludes that the region transcends the development paradigm based on large urban agglomerations. Functional complementarity, enhanced by infrastructure, transforms micro and small firms into the primary drivers of local and regional growth, highlighting the catalytic role of connectivity in territorial integration.

Street systems are fundamental elements of cities, and they include many hierarchies that determine the structure of the urban fabric. It is possible to identify some basic typologies of streets as routes found in all spontaneous building fabrics. The matrix route is the oldest and most important one, as it has led to the development of settlements and often formed naturally without a planned design. The study focuses on the matrix route’s three-dimensional impact on the urban form, specifically analyzing Karakolhane Street’s role in shaping the Yeldeğirmeni district in Kadıköy, Istanbul. The street was chosen due to its evolution being traceable on historical maps, and the changes in its three-dimensional structure can be identified based on zoning laws and personal observations. The analysis methodology comparatively focuses on the street structure and nodes, height changes, height differences at polar nodes, and their impact on the urban landscape. The inquiry aims to document these changes using historical maps, records, texts, illustrations, and photographs. Historical maps are the primary source of information as they display the layout of streets, urban blocks, and buildings, preferably dating back to the 18th century.

Algerian social housing, inherited from modernist paradigms, is undergoing extensive appropriation as residents modify standardized architectural phenotypes. While often dismissed as informal disorder, this study reframes these transformations as deliberate acts of cultural inscription. The authors posit that these appropriations, far from being random, follow a deep structural logic and converge towards an identifiable socio-spatial configuration. To test this hypothesis, a mixed-methods approach was deployed in Tazoult, Batna. First, a qualitative survey of 150 units documented and modeled 17 recurring “lived phenotypes.” Subsequently, these configurations were quantitatively compared against the original “designed” plans and traditional houses, serving as a cultural benchmark using Space Syntax. Comparative analysis reveals a distinct trajectory: lived phenotypes systematically diverge from the initial designed genotype, which is characterized by tree-like topologies and the dominance of circulation spaces. Instead, they converge towards a local genotype defined by the primacy of ring-like structures, the centrality of living spaces, and a dialectic of integration and segregation. These principles bear striking similarities to traditional housing, particularly in their recreation of the Ghorfat n’ilmas (the polyvalent central hearth room). Ultimately, this research provides quantitative evidence that appropriation acts as a cultural rewriting of space. By translating qualitative needs into objective configurational principles, this study offers an empirical knowledge base for designing adaptable and socially relevant housing.

In the context of increasing calls for participatory and community-led development, understanding the extent to which legal frameworks enable bottom-up approaches is crucial. This paper examines the legislative framework governing spatial development in Serbia in order to identify legal possibilities for initiatives coming from nongovernmental actors. The research employs a content analysis of relevant legislative acts, followed by a second layer of analysis that focuses on the planning documents these laws prescribe and their interrelations at the operational level. The findings reveal that, while the legal framework formally allows the engagement of licensed professionals and legal entities, the initiation, financing, and control of development processes remain largely in the hands of state and local authorities. The only significant space for bottom-up development is found within the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, through the LEADER program, which explicitly encourages community-led initiatives. In contrast, other legal provisions offer limited room for meaningful participation by non-governmental actors, highlighting a top-down orientation in Serbia’s development planning system.

This article examines the impact of growing urbanisation, with particular attention given to identifying thresholds that mark the onset of irreversible change and the associated risks when these thresholds are exceeded. The research presents a threshold-based tool for assessing sustainability – the Suburban Sustainability Systemic Thresholds Index ($ S^{3} $-TI) – which uses a systemic approach with threshold modelling to evaluate urban sustainability. It identifies trigger factors and their development thresholds within the socio-ecological system. This tool was applied to the Bordj-El-Kiffan municipality in Algiers, where data was collected through indicators spanning five systems: social, managerial, economic, environmental, and the built environment. The results from these indicators were then benchmarked against a reference area: the central urban system area. The assessment categorises the development thresholds as acceptable, critical, or unacceptable, reflecting the system’s proximity to sustainable or at-risk states. The results indicate that Bordj-El-Kiffan has surpassed critical to unacceptable thresholds in several domains, highlighting persistent deficiencies in essential services, limited citizen participation, difficulties in managing urban services and natural resources, unsustainable demographic patterns, and inadequate mobility infrastructure. The $ S^{3} $-TI tool serves as an alert system and awareness-raising instrument, emphasizing the importance of defining and respecting development thresholds to support adaptive and sustainable territorial governance. By integrating the $ S^{3} $-TI tool into future urban planning practices, sustainability in Algerian cities – and potentially in other Global South contexts – can be strengthened. The study emphasises qualitative aspects such as urban well-being and environmental equilibrium rather than solely focusing on quantitative indicators of growth, promoting a more holistic approach to urban sustainability.

Western Serbia boasts a hilly landscape and rich natural and cultural heritage, enriched by its hydrographic network of rivers and artificial lakes. While the lakes are mainly used as water management facilities, recently their coastal areas have been improved to promote tourism, turning the lakes into tourist attractions. Their tourist valorisation is therefore essential for water-based tourism development and its integration with other forms of tourism. This paper analyzes the current state, development opportunities, and preservation of the observed area through planning documents and legislation. Spatial Plans in Serbia have a key role as the mechanism for the improvement and protection of the lakes. They contribute to the preservation of natural resources while creating added value through tourism. The emphasis of this paper is on a detailed review of the spatial plans aimed at preserving and protecting the lakes’ potential, identifying, and minimizing negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems, as well as encouraging the development of activities compatible with natural resources and goods. The biggest challenge is planning and developing tourism within protected areas. While stimulating the economy and benefiting the local communities, dense tourism could also harm ecosystems and the spatial balance. Improving the coastal areas of lakes and developing tourist infrastructure can significantly increase attractiveness, but it is vital to simultaneously preserve natural resources. Balancing economic development with the protection of natural values to ensure their long-term sustainability is both a challenge and a necessity. Planning tourism development and involving the local population in it can be important steps in that direction.

The intersection of quantum urbanism and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) offers a new paradigm for remapping urban futures, wherein digital and physical realms merge into dynamic, decentralized ecosystems. This article examines how quantum computing, by applying principles such as superposition and probabilistic optimization, can simulate extremely intricate urban systems, from energy networks to traffic patterns, with unprecedented efficiency. Meanwhile, NFTs are transforming the notion of virtual land ownership, allowing decentralized control and hybrid economies that bypass geographical constraints. By integrating these domains, cities can become vibrant spaces where quantum algorithms optimize virtual land value, and NFT-based platforms democratize urban development. However, this transformation poses fundamental challenges: the energy consumption of quantum-blockchain infrastructures risks compromising sustainability goals, while algorithmic opacity and digital divides risk reproducing historical inequalities in virtual realms. Ethical governance policy and principles must concentrate on renewable energy integration, algorithmic transparency, and fair access to prevent exploitation. Drawing from emergent metaverse economy trials and quantum urban simulations, the paper argues that such a nexus would be capable of driving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 9 (innovation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities), and SDG 17 (partnerships) if they are premised on participatory design and cross-sectoral collaboration.

The paper is dedicated to exploring the applicability of continuous urban planning as an existing instrument of urban planning to contemporary authoritarian-neoliberal tendencies. The aim is to illuminate, through a scientific and methodological approach, the extent to which urban planning is capable of adequately managing the changes manifested in the socio-spatial matrix of authoritarian neoliberalism using its decades-long developed instrument. The research focuses on identifying and analyzing aspects of continuous urban planning and authoritarian neoliberalism, based on relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical analysis within the context of Belgrade, which interpret the role and position of continuous urban planning in the challenges of the contemporary context of authoritarian neoliberalism. The research results show how the illuminated authoritarian neoliberal mechanisms, principles and tendencies in urban development reshape the role and position of contemporary urban planning instruments, with potential directions for their improvement aimed at increasing the resilience of urban planning to contemporary societal challenges.

Community-based architectural pedagogy encompasses a diverse range of practices – such as live projects, designbuild studios, participatory design, and service-learning – yet the fragmented terminology and varying theoretical underpinnings pose challenges to understanding its broader educational impact. This systematic review examines ninety-five peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed publications from 2014–2024 to explore how various approaches address student learning and community participation. Using a mixed-method approach, we combine a systematic quantitative literature review (SQLR) with qualitative thematic analysis to identify five pedagogical orientations: Community-Driven & Participatory Approaches, Experiential & Design-Build Pedagogy, Sustainability & Resilience, Digital & Interdisciplinary Innovation, and Culture, Heritage & Pedagogical Frameworks. While some papers prioritize student learning or community impact, the majority pursue a balanced synergy between both. Furthermore, the review also identifies six recurring pedagogical strategies employed in community-based design education: handson fabrication, collaborative design, place-based learning, digital engagement, sustainable and regenerative design, and community-driven engagement. However, limitations such as tokenism, scalability, and digital access persist. Findings reveal a Western-dominated field, characterized by a concentration of projects and scholarship in the U.S. and European regions with limited representation from non-English contexts, although there is growing global interest. Future models should be able to prioritize longitudinal impact, equitable power-sharing, and scalable hybrid models. This study advances discourse on balancing educational goals with meaningful community engagement.

Climate change is increasingly influencing how residential spaces are designed and used. While much attention has been given to dense urban environments, single-family homes in suburban and rural areas remain largely absent from mainstream climate strategies, despite their significant environmental footprint. This paper introduces a conceptual framework for climate-resilient housing, built around four key strategies: adaptation, mitigation, prevention, and compensation. It takes into account not only technical performance but also the spatial, ecological and social dimensions of housing. The study applies a qualitative and interpretive research approach, combining typological building analysis, environmental performance data, and literature on sustainable planning. To explore how the framework might be implemented in practice, three European case studies are used: Vauban in Freiburg, BedZED in London, and Aspern Die Seestadt in Vienna. Each of these offers a distinct model of sustainable housing development and provides a valuable basis for comparative analysis. By connecting local housing typologies with broader environmental systems, the framework contributes to a more integrated understanding of how single-family homes can actively support climate resilience. The findings offer a foundation for developing more adaptive, resource-conscious and socially inclusive approaches to residential design.

This research investigates the relationship between urban land use and terrorist attacks in target locations of Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria – a city significantly affected by insurgency and urban vulnerabilities. Analysing 402 terrorist incidents recorded between 2010 and 2020, the research identifies critical correlations between land use and attack types. The results revealed that tertiary institutions, motor parks, and Jumaat mosques were the highest risk facilities for bomb attacks, increasing their likelihood by 265%, 205%, and 218%, respectively, due to their capacity to attract large crowds and influence routine activities. Markets and schools were found to be key predictors of armed assaults. At the same time, facilities such as public offices, hotels, and recreation areas demonstrated resilience to bomb attacks, reducing their likelihood by 63%, 90%, and 79%, respectively, due to their controlled access and security measures. Notably, certain land uses, including markets and IDP camps, exhibited no significant correlation with bomb attacks, contrary to expectations. These findings highlight the critical role of urban planning in mitigating vulnerabilities by strategically integrating high-risk and resilient land uses. The study emphasizes the need for urban planners and policymakers to incorporate counterterrorism measures into land-use planning, in order to foster safer and more resilient cities in conflict-prone regions.

The initial design concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has emerged as a key urban policy to address urbanization challenges worldwide, drawing on an integrated transportation and land use planning approach. Although TOD policies are typically formulated at the local level, addressing related subjects such as parking and zoning codes, some governance systems elevate them to the national level to guide lower-tier policies. For instance, in Iran - a newcomer to TOD - a national TOD policy has recently been introduced as part of a TOD policy package. However, there remains uncertainty about the extent to which a national guideline can contribute to successful TOD implementation, support local tiers, and ensure the achievement of TOD goals. The present research aims to address this gap by shedding light on the Iranian experience through a qualitative approach. The findings indicate that a National Transit-Oriented Development Guideline (NTODG) is among the 'efficient' instruments available to governments for advancing TOD culture - particularly in developing-country cities as newcomers to TOD, where the integration of transport and land use faces numerous challenges. However, NTODGs tend to be ?insufficient? on their own, as they must be coordinated with other related policies under a ?stable? political system and planning framework to turn TOD aspirations into reality.

The paper analyzes contemporary theoretical approaches to explaining the elements of territorial capital, which are recognized as key drivers of improving regional competitiveness. Special emphasis is placed on the decomposition of territorial capital depending on ownership structure and materiality. The paper thoroughly examines the characteristics of the elements of territorial capital, with a particular focus on their contribution to the growth of regional competitiveness. The research is based on the application of descriptive economic analysis, enriched with visual representations that depict the concept of territorial capital and regional competitiveness. Descriptive analytical tools have enabled the precise description of the essential features of various components of territorial capital, while visual representations have further enhanced the understanding and interpretation of the core concepts investigated in the study. In the course of the research, classical and contemporary sources were utilized to analyze the nature and key determinants of endogenous growth, as well as the essence of the concepts of regional competitiveness and territorial capital. A specific methodological approach was directed towards the systematization and analysis of territorial capital categories, with typological research methods predominantly employed to achieve precise classification and interpretation of relevant components. The results of the research indicate that the improvement of regional competitiveness largely depends on the efficient and effective utilization of available territorial capital. The primary task of policymakers is to facilitate networking, cooperation, and coordination among entrepreneurial and other participants in developmental processes, with the goal of creating synergies that contribute to sustainable development and regional competitiveness.

Extracting resources without considering the needs of the local community and adequate environmental protection can deepen existing inequalities between social groups, creating opportunities for ecological conflicts. This, in turn, gives rise to various forms of activism opposing the exclusion of individuals and social groups from decision-making processes related to the management of natural resources. The first part of the paper explores the concepts of participatory, professional, and transactional activism. Additionally, the theoretical framework includes the concepts of environmental distribution conflicts and mining conflicts. These concepts will be illustrated through an analysis of mining areas in Eastern Serbia, firstly by providing a contextual overview of broader local community engagement in Bor and Majdanpek based on the analysis of secondary sources, and secondly by analyzing the results of a survey conducted with the residents of Bor and Majdanpek between July and September 2024 (N=300). In the concluding section, based on the contextual analysis and empirical findings, the sources of motivation and types of citizen engagement in Bor and Majdanpek are interpreted in relation to different conceptualizations of activism that may lead to social conflict expressed through collective action resisting mining activities.

This study aimed to establish a valid and purposeful evaluation tool for building professionals and designers to identify housing features that adversely impact children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). After a review of pre-existing tools, it was found that such a tool does not yet exist but is necessary for modifying, designing, and constructing residential environments of the future. Most environmental quality checklists or housing quality assessment tools lack specificity, development, and documentation of operational definitions. Therefore, we developed the Housing Environmental Quality Assessment Tool (HEQAT) based on pre-existing building tools in combination with identified aspects of environmental features associated with mental health and ADHD extracted from the literature. Using the Delphi process, we modified the tool based on the opinions of four groups of experts and stakeholders to establish the tool’s validity. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to establish the overall content validity of the assessment tool. Of the tool’s 74 items reviewed and rated by a team of experts and stakeholders over a 2-round Delphi process, 70 items were judged to be relevant, with a CVI of greater than 0.78. Consequently, the tool’s overall content validity was calculated as 95 per cent. The data obtained using this tool could contribute to the knowledge of how residential buildings can be designed and built to be suitable for individuals diagnosed with ADHD.