The objective of this paper is to understand why certain types of layout of public spaces are more performative than others. In this paper I will examine the relationship between space configuration, space affordances and pedestrian behavior in Paiva Couceiro Square in Lisbon. Through descriptive analyses and quantification it would be discussed how space layout and typology can contribute to the urban life. Moreover, it would be analyzed how the design of a square can support not only the formal, but also the informal process that makes a place. The research combines configurational analysis with direct observation in order to understand how different typologies of public spaces influence human behavior. Space Syntax techniques will be used to describe and analyze spatial configurations in relation to social patterns. The model involves a topologic and nonmetric understanding of space and suggests that pedestrian behavior can be explained by attributes of space like accessibility, proximity, continuity, integration, etc. At the same time, direct observation of pedestrian behavior was attempted to quantifiably isolate what elements of the open spaces made them effective or, conversely, ineffective. The results of this research suggest that the relationship between space affordance (the complementarity between man and the environment) and the establishment of the use of space by people is fundamental for the social life and performance of public spaces. The results show the regularities of public embodied space that can be qualified and quantified in an analytical and systematic way. They suggest how designers can manipulate space in order to contribute to the urban life and socialization of the city.

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Space syntax, configuration, topology, human behavior