In the previous topic, it was all about design in architecture, you learned about the effects of architectural design on

specific behaviors such as distance where in physical and functional distance were defined; for the design and spatial
arrangement, interior spaces for social environments were illustrated; amenities were aspects of the environment for
interpersonal interactions and occurrence of behavior; the end of that section, it enumerated how motivating factors were
affected by the environment.

To continue with our course, this section will be focusing on space, what it means, how can it be manipulated, what is this
method and why it is very important to know and how can you apply it for your upcoming activity. This is a short topic so
this might as well be easy to understand and can be readily applied. so here it is.

SPACE ARTICULATION

Space is never meaningless. Spatial qualities have psychological meaning. Real space is always inhabited and situated.
(Hornecker, n.d.). By inhabiting space, we make it suit our needs, interpret it and give it meaning. Inhabited space is
always situated, and the environmental context affects its meaning. As designers, we can manipulate the space as part of
the context. Real spaces can then acquire characteristics as a result of a complex interplay of social, aesthetic, and
physical factors of the setting. We encounter objects and people in space. They have the material/physical presence – we
meet them face to face, feel their (potential) resistance to our actions, and feel the atmosphere they emit like an aura.

The social effects of sharing space are intimacy, social nearness and a higher tendency to cooperate. Configurability refers
to the meaningful re-arrangement of (significant) objects, giving the user control over the environment, enhancing
engagement, supporting explorative behavior or providing thinking aids (external representations).

Designers may configure spaces to alter their meaning, to establish an inhabited (or owned) space, or to control the
material/physical presence of people and objects. Space articulation is often used in architecture to define a zone of space
within a larger spatial context.

It is a method of styling the joints in the formal elements of architectural design. Through degrees of articulation, each
part is united with the whole work by means of a joint in such a way that the joined parts are put together in styles ranging
from exceptionally distinct jointing the opposite of high articulation-fluidity and continuity of joining.

It may be achieved through:

1. Elevating a portion of the base plane

a) With the different surface – it will create a new field of space, define the boundary of that space, and interrupt
the flow of space.
b) With the same surface – the elevated plane will appear to be very much the same as the surrounding space.
c) Within a building – an elevated space can provide a retreat from the activity around it or an area from which
the surrounding spaces may be viewed.
 2. Depressing the portion to be articulated. The ground plane may be depressed to define sheltered areas or to make
more extensive use of the areas on the “normal” level.

3. Changing the form, color, or texture of the edges of the space. This creates visual boundaries and eliminates the
need for actual partitions between spaces.
4. Changing the formal and surface qualities of the ceiling. The ceiling can be lowered or recessed to alter the scale
of space.
5. Placing a vertical linear element. This establishes a point in the ground plane and creates imaginary paths that lead
the viewer to it.
6. Placing a row of columns (colonnade) that defines the edges of the volume. This helps to reinforce boundaries
while permitting visual and spatial continuity.
7. Placing a vertical plane that will articulate the space that it fronts. If it has two fronts or “faces”, the plane
establishes the edges of the two separate volumes of space.
8. Placing various elements parallel to each other. This helps in defining a field of space enclosed by the objects.

Space articulation is often used in architecture to define a zone of space within a larger spatial context. So the next time
you design a space, just remember the theories mention here.