¹Faculty of Architecture & Town Planning, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel

Correspondence: Dalit Shach Pinsly, Tel: +972 54 4377408; Fax: +972 4 8100691; E-mails: ardalit@tx.technion.ac.il; dalitsp@u.washington.edu

Abstract

This paper reports on a 'visual exposure' analysis and comparative evaluation of three case studies. The method consists of measuring visual distances relating to privacy in the urban environment, which is a major aspect influencing human environmental quality. The comparative evaluation is applied to three varied case studies that have varied design characteristics and morphological features, but in all the built density is of 10 residential units to 1000 m²: (1) Bat-Galim in Haifa, Israel, (2) Bavli in Tel Aviv, Israel and (3) Nora Humnen, Helsingbor, Sweden. The case study analysis is presented with regard to the neighbourhood and building scales. The visual distances are measured at different levels of the built volumes, from each facade opening toward all the other facade openings facing it. The case study evaluation enables us to rank the variant building morphologies with regard to their 'visual exposure' level. This analysis can also contribute to defining building geometry that enables low levels of 'visual exposure' (positive relating to privacy aspects) or high levels of visual exposure (negative relating to privacy aspects). This research may contribute to the design of future urban fabrics relating to 'visual exposure' in the built environment.