Urban settings, conceived and implemented in the climate of modern-day urbanisation and technology, show undesirable trends. In the typical situation, due to the absence of the urban dweller's participation in the planning and design process, prescriptive decision-making directs and shapes the urban environment on the basis of the objectives of the trained professional or a developer. The disciplines of architecture, urban design, and urban planning, well endowed with research in terms of their philosophical, cultural, and historical dimensions, traditionally overlook systematic and impartial methods in realisation of design objectives. In addition, architects generally focus within the confines of the immediate site, ignoring the wider context. Urban planners and designers tend to follow their perceptions of the urban setting and pragmatic objectives, and to overlook the elements which constitute spatial quality for others. Planning and design tasks performed in this way are prescriptive and perfunctory, and do not meet the urban dweller's perceptions of spatial quality. Although the planning and design disciplines can avail themselves of considerable intellectual resources, systematic methods to synthesise both the subjective opinion of the urban dweller and expert opinion of specialists are lacking. With current global scenarios, the need to develop methods for participation becomes even more relevant and urgent. The likelihood of high-density settings is ominous without changes in planning and design approaches. The overall objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology which meets the demands of the situations described. The data for this study are derived from a theoretical examination of the attributes which contribute to the perceptions of spatial quality in the urban setting. A thematic analysis, carried out against the background of factors, such as spatial patterning, links social well-being with characteristics of the urban environment. Consistent and invariant spatial quality indicators are derived which are then associated with spatial performance. A spatial frame is then identified to structure the methodology into recognisable and manageable urban spatial components. Expectations of spatial performance are translated systematically into primary planning and design generators to complete the elements of the methodology. The problem of how to involve urban dwellers and specialist designers and planners for a consensus useful in the planning process is examined. The comprehensive methodology developed by Sondheim for assessing environmental impacts incorporates the necessary features for adaptation to new urban settings and resolves the problem of polling divergent priorities without requiring discussion or consensus amongst participants. The matrix procedures of the chosen methodology involve both subjective and informed qualitative evaluation without the use of environmental indices, which are found wanting as measures of quality. Post-multiplication of the matrices produces ranking of planning and design generators in order of importance, which, effectively, represents the choice of the urban dweller. The methodology is operationalised to test the matrix and post-multiplication procedures, and the rationality of the result. For the case model presented, a rational result was obtained, which supports the adaptation of the methodology for creative purposes. The ranking is referred to a source book, which allows the systematic transformation of the primary planning and design generators into recognisable and conventional planning directives. As a contribution to the planning and design fields, the methodology is a useful creative tool, effectively addressing the problem of the interface between planner and user in the attainment of spatial quality in the development of new urban settings. Furthermore, the procedures can be operationalised to meet an infinite range of variables, or spatial scenarios within the urban setting.

The initial concept of my project started from my experience in China. The domestic increase of productivity, heavier workloads and longer working hours have provoked an urgent desire for an increased quality of leisure, which has triggered an enormous basic demand for comfortable houses with gardens in Chinese societies. But most Chinese people do not have a backyard or a garden to themselves due to the high population density. Public open space has to compensate for this demand. Meanwhile, with the quickening tempo of modern life and prolonged working hours, most people have to enjoy their entertainment and social activities after daytime. Therefore, these public open spaces are even more highly used than during the day, people use them as their backyard and for social gatherings. How these open spaces operate at night has had an enormous impact on nightlife and its importance has been gradually recognized. The Chinese government is spending large amounts of money constructing and upgrading the lighting in open space. But most of these projects do not address key issues associated with lighting. For example, what the government considers 'good lighting' many people consider to be over-lighting or functional lighting and even some lighting projects leave many functions of the space unlit, For instance, pathways or sidewalks are not lit but the plazas and squares are. Those types of issues occur in many open spaces due to a traditional approach to the lighting design process which tends to occur separately to the design process. Obviously most lighting projects do not really consider the relation of light, space and people's use. When I came to Melbourne I found out that the City of Melbourne has a specific lighting strategy, which is more about electricity saving and technical requirements rather than spatiality. In addition, many lighting companies deal with lighting effect on surrounding landscape and architecture but are also not about spatiality. So in order to understand the spatial qualities of lighting, my original research questions were: 1. Instead of traditional building materials how lighting can be used to transform space and spatial quality in open space? 2. How does lighting spatially bridge between site and street, site and building, site and context, eventually site and city? 3. I also wanted to consider the site's identity at various scales.

Preporsition for bachelor thesis project, working from the inside and out. Emphasising spatial quality and experience, More or less ignoring form and program. I’ve had issues with these aspects in earlier project, the form or the program takes alot of place in the project. I haven’t tried this approach before, it’s an attractive thought to allow the project take a form of it’s own, enclosing those spaces i create. The initial concept was to place the pools on the ground (not digging them into the ground) making them volumes that divide and define spaces. Also shifting the interaction between those in the water and those walking alongside the edges. The ceiling should mirror the spaces created by the pool. sinking down over some areas and opening up above others. My process is usually exploratory, I find something i can’t undestand or something where i can’t image the outcome. I play with this until patterns emerge or i feel i can control it. In that stage the inspiration vains. It’s magical to experiencing new things and constantly learning. When i come to that state the project tends to generate itself. During this thesis project I want to define my own process. I want to put it into words in order to understand it myself, but also in order to communicate it to others. Map it all out and hopefully find what makes a project selfgenerating. Filter everything and find the essence of what i’ve learned from my education.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma exploração teórica sobre o tema da qualidade espacial na arquitetura em suas diferentes escalas, tendo em conta o ponto de vista de um caminhante sensível ao meio que o envolve. Entende-se, no contexto teórico a ser apresentado, que o tema da qualidade do espaço público urbano tem particular relevância no atual momento das cidades, em função da prioridade destinada a automóveis e veículos automotores nas soluções da espacialidade urbana, normalmente em detrimento daquele que usa a cidade a pé. O trabalho busca fundamentação na produção literária e nas teorias de um grupo de autores com produção reconhecida no tema da espacialidade na arquitetura e nos estudos da cidade. A investigação sobre a qualidade espacial da arquitetura a ser apresentada fundamenta-se em três pilares, dois descritivos e um metodológico. De um lado estarão as descrições da configuração espacial e, de outro, em paralelo, as descrições da percepção espacial, ou seja, o modo como as situações espaciais são vividas e apreciadas pelo observador, quando o corpo e os sentidos do usuário ocupam um papel principal. Trabalhar-se-á com a hipótese de que os efeitos de configuração, sobre a qualidade espacial, ocorrem simultaneamente nas escalas local e global (AGUIAR, 2016a). Na escala global, a configuração espacial será abordada, inicialmente, através da descrição morfológica e, num segundo momento, a partir da condição de acessibilidade/sintaxe espacial e seus impactos na dita vitalidade urbana. Na escala local, a configuração espacial será examinada através tanto das características de delimitação espacial/enclausuramento quanto das características da constituição do espaço. Na sequência, tomando o corpo como categoria de percepção, o trabalho examinará as condições de legibilidade, entendida como funcionalidade visual, e de comodidade, entendida como funcionalidade háptica. Tendo em conta as descrições da qualidade espacial acima delineadas, o trabalho aborda, ao final, o tema do movimento como categoria metodológica. Seguindo esse roteiro, busca-se trazer à luz um conjunto de descrições da cidade relevantes no entendimento daquilo que se entende como qualidade espacial urbana, esperando assim contribuir para o debate sobre esse tópico, tão relevante no momento atual nos meios acadêmico e profissional. / This dissertation presents a theoretical exploration of the subject of spatial quality at different scales in architecture, taking into account the point of view of a walker sensitive to his/her surrounding environment. It is understood in the theoretical context to be presented hereafter that the subject of the quality of an urban, public space is particularly relevant to the cities of today, given the prioritization of cars and other motor vehicles in the designs of urban spaces, usually at the expense of those favored by walkers. This work is grounded in the literary production and the theories of a group of authors recognized for their authority in the field of spatiality in architecture and in the study of cities. The investigation of the spatial quality of architecture to be presented here is based on two descriptive pillars and one methodological. On the one hand, there are the descriptions of the spatial configurations and, on the other hand and in parallel, there are the descriptions of the spatial perception, namely how the observer is living and appreciating spatial situations in which the user’s body and senses play the main role. We will work on the hypothesis that the effects of configuration on the spatial quality occur simultaneously at the local and global scales (AGUIAR, 2016a). At the global scale, we will initially approach the spatial configuration through the morphological description and, in a second phase, from the condition of spatial accessibility/syntax and its impacts on the urban vitality. At the local scale, we will examine the spatial configuration on the one hand through the characteristics of the special delimitation/enclosure and, on the other hand, through the characteristics of the space’s constitution. Then, taking the body as the category of perception, our work is looking at the conditions of legibility, understood as the visual functionality, and of commodity, understood as the haptic functionality. Taking into account the descriptions of the spatial quality outlined above, we eventually address the theme of the movement as a methodological category. Following this roadmap, we aim to bring light to a series of descriptions of the city that are relevant to the comprehension of what is understood as urban quality. We hope this will contribute to the debate on this issue, which is so important currently among both academic and professional circles.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma exploração teórica sobre o tema da qualidade espacial na arquitetura em suas diferentes escalas, tendo em conta o ponto de vista de um caminhante sensível ao meio que o envolve. Entende-se, no contexto teórico a ser apresentado, que o tema da qualidade do espaço público urbano tem particular relevância no atual momento das cidades, em função da prioridade destinada a automóveis e veículos automotores nas soluções da espacialidade urbana, normalmente em detrimento daquele que usa a cidade a pé. O trabalho busca fundamentação na produção literária e nas teorias de um grupo de autores com produção reconhecida no tema da espacialidade na arquitetura e nos estudos da cidade. A investigação sobre a qualidade espacial da arquitetura a ser apresentada fundamenta-se em três pilares, dois descritivos e um metodológico. De um lado estarão as descrições da configuração espacial e, de outro, em paralelo, as descrições da percepção espacial, ou seja, o modo como as situações espaciais são vividas e apreciadas pelo observador, quando o corpo e os sentidos do usuário ocupam um papel principal. Trabalhar-se-á com a hipótese de que os efeitos de configuração, sobre a qualidade espacial, ocorrem simultaneamente nas escalas local e global (AGUIAR, 2016a). Na escala global, a configuração espacial será abordada, inicialmente, através da descrição morfológica e, num segundo momento, a partir da condição de acessibilidade/sintaxe espacial e seus impactos na dita vitalidade urbana. Na escala local, a configuração espacial será examinada através tanto das características de delimitação espacial/enclausuramento quanto das características da constituição do espaço. Na sequência, tomando o corpo como categoria de percepção, o trabalho examinará as condições de legibilidade, entendida como funcionalidade visual, e de comodidade, entendida como funcionalidade háptica. Tendo em conta as descrições da qualidade espacial acima delineadas, o trabalho aborda, ao final, o tema do movimento como categoria metodológica. Seguindo esse roteiro, busca-se trazer à luz um conjunto de descrições da cidade relevantes no entendimento daquilo que se entende como qualidade espacial urbana, esperando assim contribuir para o debate sobre esse tópico, tão relevante no momento atual nos meios acadêmico e profissional. / This dissertation presents a theoretical exploration of the subject of spatial quality at different scales in architecture, taking into account the point of view of a walker sensitive to his/her surrounding environment. It is understood in the theoretical context to be presented hereafter that the subject of the quality of an urban, public space is particularly relevant to the cities of today, given the prioritization of cars and other motor vehicles in the designs of urban spaces, usually at the expense of those favored by walkers. This work is grounded in the literary production and the theories of a group of authors recognized for their authority in the field of spatiality in architecture and in the study of cities. The investigation of the spatial quality of architecture to be presented here is based on two descriptive pillars and one methodological. On the one hand, there are the descriptions of the spatial configurations and, on the other hand and in parallel, there are the descriptions of the spatial perception, namely how the observer is living and appreciating spatial situations in which the user’s body and senses play the main role. We will work on the hypothesis that the effects of configuration on the spatial quality occur simultaneously at the local and global scales (AGUIAR, 2016a). At the global scale, we will initially approach the spatial configuration through the morphological description and, in a second phase, from the condition of spatial accessibility/syntax and its impacts on the urban vitality. At the local scale, we will examine the spatial configuration on the one hand through the characteristics of the special delimitation/enclosure and, on the other hand, through the characteristics of the space’s constitution. Then, taking the body as the category of perception, our work is looking at the conditions of legibility, understood as the visual functionality, and of commodity, understood as the haptic functionality. Taking into account the descriptions of the spatial quality outlined above, we eventually address the theme of the movement as a methodological category. Following this roadmap, we aim to bring light to a series of descriptions of the city that are relevant to the comprehension of what is understood as urban quality. We hope this will contribute to the debate on this issue, which is so important currently among both academic and professional circles.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma exploração teórica sobre o tema da qualidade espacial na arquitetura em suas diferentes escalas, tendo em conta o ponto de vista de um caminhante sensível ao meio que o envolve. Entende-se, no contexto teórico a ser apresentado, que o tema da qualidade do espaço público urbano tem particular relevância no atual momento das cidades, em função da prioridade destinada a automóveis e veículos automotores nas soluções da espacialidade urbana, normalmente em detrimento daquele que usa a cidade a pé. O trabalho busca fundamentação na produção literária e nas teorias de um grupo de autores com produção reconhecida no tema da espacialidade na arquitetura e nos estudos da cidade. A investigação sobre a qualidade espacial da arquitetura a ser apresentada fundamenta-se em três pilares, dois descritivos e um metodológico. De um lado estarão as descrições da configuração espacial e, de outro, em paralelo, as descrições da percepção espacial, ou seja, o modo como as situações espaciais são vividas e apreciadas pelo observador, quando o corpo e os sentidos do usuário ocupam um papel principal. Trabalhar-se-á com a hipótese de que os efeitos de configuração, sobre a qualidade espacial, ocorrem simultaneamente nas escalas local e global (AGUIAR, 2016a). Na escala global, a configuração espacial será abordada, inicialmente, através da descrição morfológica e, num segundo momento, a partir da condição de acessibilidade/sintaxe espacial e seus impactos na dita vitalidade urbana. Na escala local, a configuração espacial será examinada através tanto das características de delimitação espacial/enclausuramento quanto das características da constituição do espaço. Na sequência, tomando o corpo como categoria de percepção, o trabalho examinará as condições de legibilidade, entendida como funcionalidade visual, e de comodidade, entendida como funcionalidade háptica. Tendo em conta as descrições da qualidade espacial acima delineadas, o trabalho aborda, ao final, o tema do movimento como categoria metodológica. Seguindo esse roteiro, busca-se trazer à luz um conjunto de descrições da cidade relevantes no entendimento daquilo que se entende como qualidade espacial urbana, esperando assim contribuir para o debate sobre esse tópico, tão relevante no momento atual nos meios acadêmico e profissional. / This dissertation presents a theoretical exploration of the subject of spatial quality at different scales in architecture, taking into account the point of view of a walker sensitive to his/her surrounding environment. It is understood in the theoretical context to be presented hereafter that the subject of the quality of an urban, public space is particularly relevant to the cities of today, given the prioritization of cars and other motor vehicles in the designs of urban spaces, usually at the expense of those favored by walkers. This work is grounded in the literary production and the theories of a group of authors recognized for their authority in the field of spatiality in architecture and in the study of cities. The investigation of the spatial quality of architecture to be presented here is based on two descriptive pillars and one methodological. On the one hand, there are the descriptions of the spatial configurations and, on the other hand and in parallel, there are the descriptions of the spatial perception, namely how the observer is living and appreciating spatial situations in which the user’s body and senses play the main role. We will work on the hypothesis that the effects of configuration on the spatial quality occur simultaneously at the local and global scales (AGUIAR, 2016a). At the global scale, we will initially approach the spatial configuration through the morphological description and, in a second phase, from the condition of spatial accessibility/syntax and its impacts on the urban vitality. At the local scale, we will examine the spatial configuration on the one hand through the characteristics of the special delimitation/enclosure and, on the other hand, through the characteristics of the space’s constitution. Then, taking the body as the category of perception, our work is looking at the conditions of legibility, understood as the visual functionality, and of commodity, understood as the haptic functionality. Taking into account the descriptions of the spatial quality outlined above, we eventually address the theme of the movement as a methodological category. Following this roadmap, we aim to bring light to a series of descriptions of the city that are relevant to the comprehension of what is understood as urban quality. We hope this will contribute to the debate on this issue, which is so important currently among both academic and professional circles.

Este trabalho propõe um estudo sobre a arquitetura das residências universitárias, buscando salientar as configurações físicas propostas pelo projeto de arquitetura no intuito de qualificar espacialmente os ambientes destas edificações. O estudo foi estruturado em três etapas. Como ponto de partida, discute-se a construção histórica do conceito de qualidade espacial e as suas implicações no âmbito do projeto de arquitetura. Após definido, o conceito foi utilizado como suporte teórico na identificação dos requisitos específicos de qualidade espacial para as residências universitárias. Para tanto, foram descritos concretamente os meios pelos quais a qualidade espacial, nos limites da definição trabalhada, poderia ser aferida. Neste processo, foram estabelecidos quatro eixos de análise: a) caráter institucional, b) potencial à sociabilidade, c) suporte funcional e d) espaço envolvente. Acredita-se que, se observados na fase de projeto, os quatro eixos de análise estabelecidos, e seus respectivos desdobramentos, poderiam potencializar a qualificação espacial destas residências. Por fim, de forma retrospecta, são pontuadas as considerações mais relevantes desta pesquisa. / This work proposes a study on the architecture of the student housing, seeking to point out the physical configurations proposed by the project of architecture in order to qualify the spatial environments of these buildings. The study was structured in three steps. As a starting point, discusses the historical construction of the spatial quality concept and its implications in the context of the project of architecture. Once, the defined concept was used as a theoretical support in the identification of spatial quality requirements specific to the student housing. To this were described as the spatial quality, within the definition worked limits, could be evaluated. In this process, were established four lines of analysis: a) institutional character, b) potential to sociability, c) functional support e d) surroundings spaces. It is believed that, if observed in the project phase, the four lines defined, and their ramifications, could enhance the space qualification of this residences. Finally, in a retrospective way, are assigned most relevance consideration of this search.

A presente dissertação consta de uma exploração teórica e empírica sobre o conceito de qualidade espacial aplicado à cidade de Porto Alegre através do estudo da evolução da sua legislação urbanística. O tema tem justificativa no contexto de crise no qual se encontra a cidade atual, onde os espaços públicos são ocupados em sua maior parte por automóveis em detrimento das atividades de interação social, que acabam se voltando para os espaços privados. Tendo em conta esse cenário de fragmentação, tanto do ponto de vista da composição do espaço quanto do ponto de vista social, este estudo proporciona uma reflexão sobre a qualidade espacial da cidade, tendo como hipótese de trabalho a suposta interferência que a legislação urbana teria em sua evolução. Buscando argumentar em torno dessa questão, essa dissertação se propõe a investigar os conceitos e fatos que levaram à elaboração do conjunto de leis urbanísticas da cidade de Porto Alegre, revisando o panorama sociopolítico e espacial que lhes deu origem. A aplicação das normativas sugeridas como responsáveis por transformações na arquitetura de Porto Alegre serão, ao final, exercitadas na comparação de duas áreas da cidade decorrentes de contextos normativos distintos. / This masters dissertation consists of a theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept of spatial quality applied to the city of Porto Alegre by studying the evolution of its urban legislation. The theme is justified in the context of crisis in which is the current city where public spaces are occupied mostly by car to the detriment of social interaction activities, which end up turning to private spaces. In view of that fragmentation scenario, both from the point of view of the composition of space and the social point of view, this study provides a reflection on the spatial quality of the city, and as a working hypothesis the alleged interference that urban legislation would have on its evolution. Seeking argue around this issue, this dissertation aims to investigate the concepts and facts that led to the drafting of the set of urban laws in the city of Porto Alegre, reviewing the sociopolitical and spatial landscape that gave rise to them. The application of the regulations suggested as responsible for changes in Porto Alegre architecture will be at the end, exercised in comparing the two areas of the city resulting to different regulatory contexts.

A presente dissertação consta de uma exploração teórica e empírica sobre o conceito de qualidade espacial aplicado à cidade de Porto Alegre através do estudo da evolução da sua legislação urbanística. O tema tem justificativa no contexto de crise no qual se encontra a cidade atual, onde os espaços públicos são ocupados em sua maior parte por automóveis em detrimento das atividades de interação social, que acabam se voltando para os espaços privados. Tendo em conta esse cenário de fragmentação, tanto do ponto de vista da composição do espaço quanto do ponto de vista social, este estudo proporciona uma reflexão sobre a qualidade espacial da cidade, tendo como hipótese de trabalho a suposta interferência que a legislação urbana teria em sua evolução. Buscando argumentar em torno dessa questão, essa dissertação se propõe a investigar os conceitos e fatos que levaram à elaboração do conjunto de leis urbanísticas da cidade de Porto Alegre, revisando o panorama sociopolítico e espacial que lhes deu origem. A aplicação das normativas sugeridas como responsáveis por transformações na arquitetura de Porto Alegre serão, ao final, exercitadas na comparação de duas áreas da cidade decorrentes de contextos normativos distintos. / This masters dissertation consists of a theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept of spatial quality applied to the city of Porto Alegre by studying the evolution of its urban legislation. The theme is justified in the context of crisis in which is the current city where public spaces are occupied mostly by car to the detriment of social interaction activities, which end up turning to private spaces. In view of that fragmentation scenario, both from the point of view of the composition of space and the social point of view, this study provides a reflection on the spatial quality of the city, and as a working hypothesis the alleged interference that urban legislation would have on its evolution. Seeking argue around this issue, this dissertation aims to investigate the concepts and facts that led to the drafting of the set of urban laws in the city of Porto Alegre, reviewing the sociopolitical and spatial landscape that gave rise to them. The application of the regulations suggested as responsible for changes in Porto Alegre architecture will be at the end, exercised in comparing the two areas of the city resulting to different regulatory contexts.

A presente dissertação consta de uma exploração teórica e empírica sobre o conceito de qualidade espacial aplicado à cidade de Porto Alegre através do estudo da evolução da sua legislação urbanística. O tema tem justificativa no contexto de crise no qual se encontra a cidade atual, onde os espaços públicos são ocupados em sua maior parte por automóveis em detrimento das atividades de interação social, que acabam se voltando para os espaços privados. Tendo em conta esse cenário de fragmentação, tanto do ponto de vista da composição do espaço quanto do ponto de vista social, este estudo proporciona uma reflexão sobre a qualidade espacial da cidade, tendo como hipótese de trabalho a suposta interferência que a legislação urbana teria em sua evolução. Buscando argumentar em torno dessa questão, essa dissertação se propõe a investigar os conceitos e fatos que levaram à elaboração do conjunto de leis urbanísticas da cidade de Porto Alegre, revisando o panorama sociopolítico e espacial que lhes deu origem. A aplicação das normativas sugeridas como responsáveis por transformações na arquitetura de Porto Alegre serão, ao final, exercitadas na comparação de duas áreas da cidade decorrentes de contextos normativos distintos. / This masters dissertation consists of a theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept of spatial quality applied to the city of Porto Alegre by studying the evolution of its urban legislation. The theme is justified in the context of crisis in which is the current city where public spaces are occupied mostly by car to the detriment of social interaction activities, which end up turning to private spaces. In view of that fragmentation scenario, both from the point of view of the composition of space and the social point of view, this study provides a reflection on the spatial quality of the city, and as a working hypothesis the alleged interference that urban legislation would have on its evolution. Seeking argue around this issue, this dissertation aims to investigate the concepts and facts that led to the drafting of the set of urban laws in the city of Porto Alegre, reviewing the sociopolitical and spatial landscape that gave rise to them. The application of the regulations suggested as responsible for changes in Porto Alegre architecture will be at the end, exercised in comparing the two areas of the city resulting to different regulatory contexts.