Investigating visibility properties in the design of aged-care facilities

This paper uses a Space Syntax approach - a computational and mathematical method using graph-based measurements - to undertake a comparative assessment of the visibility properties of three architectural plans with unusual spatial requirements. Specifically, the method is used to compare the spatio-visual properties of an idealised plan for a residential aged-care facility with the actual plans used for two facilities. The purpose of this analysis is to begin to examine the ways in which syntactical values and isovist properties can be used to capture spatial and social characteristics of plans designed for the physical and cognitive needs of an ageing populace. The application of this approach seeks to support a better understanding of the relationship between spaces and their social properties in the design of aged-care facilities.