Spatial Cognition
Spatial Cognition for Architectural Design
This training module is introducing spatial cognition research into academic architectural education. The module familiarizes architectural students with basic concepts of human spatial cognition, such as strategies, interpretation of architectural cues, learning and acquisition of spatial knowledge, cognitive mapping, visual accessibility, wayfinding and navigation, measurement of movement using space syntax analysis, experimental research in virtual reality and by means of eye-tracking techniques. The module combines theoretical background with light-weight computational tools to analyze architectural and urban design cases. Methods learned in the module translate scientific research of spatial cognition into application-oriented educational content and allow young architects and planners to broaden a set of their design skills.
The website presents a collection of students' projects from the course held at the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, IIT in Spring Semester 2014. The students were given an opportunity to analyze their own design cases from the architectural studio and other familiar environments from their everyday experience (Hebrew).
The module is initiated, developed and taught by Arch. Asya Natapov in cooperation with Spatial Cognition Center, Freiburg and Bremen Universities, Germany.