Assessing Established Residential Compounds between Regulation and Reality Utilizing Space Syntax Theories

Abstract

Planners and architects should be able to incorporate digital technologies and data utilization to fulfil their professional duty of speculating how people will interact and transact with urban configurations. Analysing spatial patterns and their association with social behaviour contributes to harnessing the impact of connectivity on economic, social, environmental, and land value growth. This research presents a mathematical relationship between three variables; as a result, by the transitive property, the connectivity value of every individual street in the urban spatial layout should indicate the location of the urban block according to their sizes and be related in the same manner. The research aims to investigate the following question: is there a positive of negative statistical coefficient correlation between residential plot sizes and connectivity/integration values presented by Depth Map X in two urban villages in Sulaimanya city? The first section’s findings support the transitive property discussed in the research; furthermore, the second section shows an imbalance in the quantity of residential plots of different sizes on each street, causing the effectiveness of the exploitation of urban land in the case studies to decrease, which disagrees with the standards outlined by the Iraqi Roads and Buildings Regulation and the theories of space syntax. This study contributes to the future design of similar projects in the region by emphasizing the need for the authorities to compel building enterprises to adhere to these standards.

1. Introduction

Space syntax is an original pioneer of the methods for analysing spatial patterns founded by Bill Hillier, a professor of architectural and urban morphology at the University of London. It highlights the analysing role of the social behaviour pattern or how people move, engage, and transact in urban configurations. It focuses on the contribution of well-integrated space in creating values socially and environmentally, and eventually increasing land value growth.

Space syntax has been remarkably involved in several of the most significant projects in the UK, such as the Queen Elizabeth Park of the London Olympics, the old Market Square in Nottingham [1], or the redesign of Trafalgar Square. The old design of Trafalgar Square did not work, first through observation and then through the creation of a spatial model that clarified why people walked around the edges of the square. Since paths through the middle were considerably spatially dislocated, it was much more convenient to walk further around the perimeter. As a result of this diagnosis, Bill came up with an innovative concept to have the Foster Foundation build a new staircase in the centre of the plaza, which significantly improved pedestrian movement through the centre of the area [2,3]. Bill delivered, “Of all the architects we have worked with, I think Norman Foster seems to understand space syntax the best”. “I know these techniques work from the harsh environment of practice”, Foster added. “I love the world of analysis observation of research but also passion in precision the hunch, space syntax is the testing of the interaction of these opposing worlds” [4]. The collaboration between Bill’s team and the Norman Foster Foundation came to life again by adding decks above the train lines into downtown London that will increase the city’s cycling capacity by an additional 500 million trips per year. Turning the city into a more bicycle-friendly area and allowing connections across the tracks [5]. Space syntax has proven its ability in contributing to introduce healthier, safer, and more efficient layouts [6], through connectivity, distribution of land uses, organizing movement, impact on crime, altering the carbon footprint of cities, and influencing land value growth [5,7]. It is important to note that many researchers from the region have been interested in the factors affecting land values and their relationships with urban spatial networks, and street hierarchy [8].

In this research, among all the aspects mentioned above, the focus will be on the relationship between the connectivity and integration of spaces and urban block sizes due to its influence on land value growth [9,10]. Two major urban villages in Sulaimanya City are listed in Kurdistan region’s licensed projects and have been approved by the Board of Investment (BOI), according to law no. (4), 2006 [11] and will be evaluated regarding the urban block sizes of the residential plots and their relationship to the connectivity values of each street in the designed space layout.

2. Research Problem

Planners and architects occasionally fail because they need to foresee how people will use the proposed configuration layout. Ultimately, the structures that support those physical locations result in societal problems of a particular nature and or economic difficulties. Architects need to improve their forecasting ability; digital technology can be our creative collaborator if we can learn to use the data effectively [12].

Since the turn of the millennium, residential cities, or urban villages, have been proliferating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Urban population expansion and artificial crises are the key factors contributing to the spread of this new trend. However, although these projects were created and constructed by reputable companies, they still needed to be more credible. Two recently established residential projects in Sulaimanya city are chosen in this research, where specific urban block layouts are designed according to intuited principles of urban design, first on urban layout levels such as access, circulation, mixed land uses, visual coherence, architectural harmony, public spaces, and green areas. Second, on the residential plots level, factors such as variable sizes, proportions, orientation, the view of the plot, distance to the project’s facilities, and being closer to the entrances must be taken into account, whereas space syntax emphasizes other aspects, e.g., connectivity, visibility, integration/segregation, and combining urban morphology with space syntax theories [13].

Translating philosophy into practice and influencing policy through influencing investment can be conducted by creating an urban value model using the space syntax analysis as an essential component to show the effect of street connectivity on future land values and investment strategies. The connectivity of streets was directly correlated to the value of properties in existing cities [7,12,14] by calculating the connectivity in the new compound’s master plan and extrapolating it to a real estate value, “If you organize it correctly, the design studio can be as fertile as the research environment at a university. This is another aspect of the process and a key lesson from practice.” [15].

In order to stimulate the future land value growth of the sophisticated detached villas with areas from 800 m² to 1500 m², which are quite an investment, they should be located on the foreground grid with high connectivity and integration values. On the other hand, the social factors are also crucial in supporting the value growth mentioned above by improving the connectivity and integration of the urban layout. “These viral streets naturally circulate traffic and enough mobility to produce the natural surveillance that Bills’ earlier study had indicated” [15].

Standardization and urban design quality control are crucial challenges to bolster sustainability [16]. Although housing is a crucial component of the environment, communities and institutions have been sluggish to respond to the environmental imperative regarding the design and construction of residential projects [17]. The amended Roads and Buildings Regulation no. 44 of 1935 in Iraq [18] governs how urban spaces and blocks are organized. Its amendments are still in effect today, but it is important to note that the law has been altered thirteen times due to urban development [18].

The classification of urbanization, urban block sizes, building area percentage, and primary and private street widths are demanded by law no. 44 of 1935 in Iraq as shown in

Table 1. Classification of urbanization, urban block sizes, building area percentage, main and private road widths (researcher according to Iraqi law (OGRI) no. 44, in 1935).

Classification of Urbanization	Block Size Not Less Than (m2)	Building Area (%)	Main Street Widths (m)	Private Street Widths (m)
First	100	-	4	>3
Second	Up to 200	-	8	>3
Third	Up to 300	65	10	>6
Fourth	Up to 600	-	12	>6
Excellence	Up to 800	55	15	>6
Private	Up to 2000	30	15	>6

[19], the table shows that the street width is directly proportional to the sizes of the blocks, as the width of the street increases the block sizes should increase too.

Suppose the street’s width (W) is positively related to urban block sizes (U) (condition 1) as in Table 1, and there is a positive correlation between the street’s width (W) and the urban layout connectivity (C) (condition 2) proven by space syntax. In that case, a mathematical relationship can be presented as, by the transitive property, the size of the urban block (U) and the connectivity (C) should be related similarly. If (U) and (C) were found to be not or negatively correlated in a given sample then it would mean that the sample study designer did not implement one of the two conditions. Either (condition-1) related to law no. 44 or (condition-2) related to Space Syntax Theory (SST) is neglected.

This conclusion evoked the research’s main problem: is there a positive or negative statistical coefficient correlation between residential unit sizes and connectivity values presented by Depth Map X in the two chosen case studies? (Figure 1).

3. Research Objectives

In order to estimate how future urban plans and designs will function, this article focuses on the importance of using digital modelling techniques to measure the performance of a newly designed urban place. Designers and architects can create residential compound layouts that include residential units, roads, walkable public spaces that are not car-dependent, and new property developments that support mixed-use communities to provoke safe and well-being communities [20]. They need to incorporate Depth Map X (version 0.8.0) software, which provides robust data-driven analysis because planning and design of successful projects all over the world, in addition, thought leadership pieces that enhance the functionality of the built environment and provide contact information for thriving living have benefited from the application of space syntax analysis [21,22,23].

This research aims to evaluate the Pearson correlation coefficient between the number of the urban block according to their size and the connectivity values presented by Depth Map X in order to ensure the following:

• The designed foreground grid accumulates the highest percentages of big plots according to the hierarchy of connection to serve its function, remain operational, stimulate land value growth, and remain connected to the whole. Furthermore, it will be prevented from succumbing to disconnectivity and losing its life;
• The background grid in the compound layout accumulates the highest percentages of small plots.

4. Literature Review and Theory

4.1. Space Syntax Theories

This research tries to demonstrate how to reduce risk in planning and design by utilizing a discredited technique known as space syntax. Bill Hillier, a lifetime achievement award recipient, presented an entirely different perspective. He argued that science boosts creativity, reduces risk in planning, and starts conversations about connectivity, which is a fundamental concept used to study and understand the spatial configuration and relationships within urban environments. It also follows the five spatial and physical concepts, namely, paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks, describing the view of the city [24].

The process of space syntax produces a set of unique concepts that summarize the syntactic structure-function theory of the city. There are no fundamental rules for how the ideas link to one another to construct the city as a whole, other than to take advantage of these interdependencies, for example, edges will typically be the edges of districts, and nodes will be the meeting of paths. The idea of the city has a remarkably intriguing proposition [25]. The most effective method for organizing the entire urban complex is through the network of habitual or possible movement pathways [26].

The space syntax’s five initial concepts are as follows:

The description of space itself is the first important idea. The city can be divided into discrete components that can be the subject of computational analysis, despite its appearance of chaos and complexity. The centreline of the road between two street intersections is the discrete element in the majority of space syntactic analysis [24];

The principle of natural movement is the second and most significant, showing that streets with more connections are used more effectively [25]. A computer algorithm calculates the degree to which individuals will likely desire to travel down a specific street from point A to point B. The program calculates every route that might be taken using the distance and the route’s difficulty as inputs;

Cities are characterized as movement economies. They clarify how urban land users organize themselves to benefit from the natural mobility pattern. The significant investment flows more naturally to the streets with more connectivity [27]. The majority of the slight investment shift to the side and back streets;

The simultaneous multi-scale city, the fourth idea, offers a fundamental description of human existence in the streets. Every street would typically have a mix of humans walking through various distances. The ratio of longer to shorter trips may vary between streets with better and worse connectivity, but it is almost always present to some extent;

The fifth and final point is that the dual grid idea defines what cities are for. It enables us to distinguish between the foreground grid of major routes and the background grid of lesser routes, which is a crucial idea [25]. While the background network restricts because social and cultural factors drive it, the foreground network is structured to maximize movement because it is driven by macro-economic factors that benefit from high levels of movement. In cities, the dual network thus reflects both functional and geographical dynamics.

These basic mathematical ideas create space math, the most fundamental idea that space syntax presents so that chaos can be described. In this research, the most significant and applicable ideas are the principle of natural movement, movement economies, and distinguishing between the foreground and background grid. An algorithm on a computer is used to measure connectivity because even a reasonably sized spatial analysis has more interconnectedness than the human brain can measure. The algorithm determines all feasible journeys by factoring in both the difficulty and the distance of the journey as inputs.

Space syntax algorithms were created to recognize how the brain works regarding navigation. When we calculate how we will get somewhere, we do not just consider the distance but also how effortlessly we can accomplish that journey geometrically. Most people typically follow the path with the slightest angular deviation from their starting point to their destination.

4.2. Space Syntax Software

Depth Map X is science-based human approach software that offers key analysis investigating the spatial relationships and patterns within a given urban space. It involves quantifying and analysing how different elements or locations within the space are interconnected and how these connections affect human movement, accessibility, and social interactions [28]. The program creates a visualization of spatial components, links them through visual network connections such as visibility, connectivity, integration, and segregation, then derives various inferences from the resultant network [29,30]. The program was created by Alasdair Turner from the Space Syntax group [29].

Numerous graph studies of the space elements were created by space syntax in particular, Segment Analysis (SG), Agent-Based Modelling (ABM), and Axial Analysis, including Connectivity Analysis (CA), and Line Length Analysis (LLA) [8]. These analyses are the outcomes of critically examining the connections between various space components. To explain what the software does simply, the given urban network will be divided into spaces such as streets, squares, and nodes. Each space has its longest line of sight drawn through it [29].

In the subsequent stage of the analysis, the computer takes each line and calculates how many corners are needed to turn to connect that line to every other line in the entire network, allowing us to determine how easily accessible each line is to all other lines. The computer will colour a line red, orange, or yellow depending on how accessible it is, whereas lines that are less accessible are coloured blue and dark blue. The subsequent analysis, out of the several that the program supplies, and is pertinent to the research problem is the following:

Axial Analysis: it is worth mentioning that this analysis is the most popular yet the most complex one; it traces a series of lines across streets, squares, and nodes in any particular urban network. The integration of a line with the overall system is determined by counting the steps necessary to connect it to any other line drawn on the axial map [31]. Numerous attributes are offered with this analysis, for instance:

Connectivity Analysis (CA): static local assessment that considers each street’s direct connection with any adjacent street [32]. The colour palette starts from red to blue gradually indicating the level of connectivity [33].

Line Length Analysis (LLA): this calculates the total number of directional changes made. The fewer directional changes there are, the fewer static steps required from the street to reach all places in the system, the higher the street’s global integration value and vice versa [33]. The first above-mentioned type of analysis is considered in this paper.

5. Materials and Proposed Method

In this research, the two most extensive residential compounds in Sulaimanya City are chosen as a case study due to their cultural and social quality similarity. Both projects are analysed by a visual network analysis program called Depth Map X. The program creates a map of spatial elements, connects them using visual network interactions such as accessibility and connectivity, then derives various inferences from the resultant network using graph analysis.

Depth Map X converts the places of any urban layout into a discrete accumulation of line segments that a software application can examine. Then, it runs algorithms within those streets using colour to determine the connections hierarchy of the layout in order to render it as visually readable as possible. The most intense red lines are the most physically connected to the whole system, while yellow, green, and blue show the less related individuals, respectively. In addition to the renders, the program presents each line with a value called the HH-value (Hillier and Hanson) that is utilized in this research as an initial set of data input. According to the hierarchy of connectivity, the width of each street is measured in Auto CAD and utilized as a second set of data. The correlation coefficient between the above-mentioned two sets of data is measured in Excel. In the second section of this research, the quantity of residential plots of different sizes (categorized by type) directly facing each street is counted according to the hierarchy of connectivity revealed by the result analysis and is used as a third set of data. In order to determine how closely related or associated the first and third sets of data are, a statistical correlation coefficient per type of plot is calculated. If the result is equal to or greater than (+0.5) it shows a positive correlation. If it is above (−0.5), that shows a negative correlation, and if it is less than (±0.5) it shows no correlation.

The following flowchart demonstrates the study method proposed in this research and set a framework that can be applied in the early stages of any urban layout design of variable scales. The proposed configuration can be evaluated and if it is necessary the design can be reconsidered (Scheme 1). Analytical techniques that are used at particular stages of a design process can effectively improve urban design processes [22].

6. Case Studies

6.1. Case Study 1: Sulaimaniya Heights Project

An urban village in Sulaimanya City contains a cluster of individual residential plots of similar culture and interests. One of the most extensive Residential Compounds in the region, established in 2016, is located near Goizha Mountain in Sulaimaniya City, Iraq. The total compound area is 154 hectares and accumulates a total of 1688 residential units, ranging from (6%) exclusive detached villas of 800 to 1500 m² (Type A), (30%) detached villas of 300 to 400 m² (Type D), (28%) semidetached houses of 240 to 270 m² (Type E), and (37%) row houses up to 200 m² (Type F). The compound offers variable neighbourhood facilities such as three primary schools, a secondary school, three mosques, three markets, two nurseries, two private villas, a technical institute, a lake of 17,300 m², two basketball fields, playgrounds, projects head office, three restaurants, and shops [34]. The compound has four gates that connect it to the whole city of Sulaimanya (Figure 2).

The Analysis

The first section includes two steps, the first step is simplifying the spatial layout to be compatible with Depth Map X, then running the axial map analysis to calculate the hierarchy of connectivity of each individual street. Depth Map X indicated the streets with the highest HH-value with red tone which gradually transform to orange, yellow, green, light blue, and dark blue according to its degree of connectivity (Figure 3a). The translations of the connectivity hierarchy of streets into numbers are shown in Figure 3b. The outcomes HH-value from the axial analysis attribute (the connectivity) are represented in

Table 2. The HH-values from the axial analysis attributes (the connectivity) and the width of streets (researcher).

Streets No.	Connectivity (HH-Value 2.4–1)	Street Width (m)
1	2.36	16.7
2	2.34	14.6
3	2.3	24
4	2.27	29
5	2.26	29
6	2.21	23.3
7	1.99	25.9
8	1.98	23.3
9	1.87	22.5
10	1.8	22.5
11	1.77	7.3
12	1.76	7.1
13	1.74	7
14	1.66	14.3
15	1.65	7
16	1.61–1.58	7
The rest	1.57–1.1	7
Correlation Coefficient between Connectivity and Street width		0.606025626

as the initial set of data input.

The second step is measuring the correlation coefficient between the HH-value presented by Depth map X and the street width of the case study layout calculated in Auto CAD (Table 2). The result shows a relatively high positive correlation of (+0.606), which means that as the street width increases the connectivity increase too (Chart 1). This supports the transitive property discussed earlier in this research and leads to the second section.

Figure 4 shows the distribution of the residential unit’s type in the compound configuration, which provides a primitive indication of the relationship.

The second section’s first step is calculating the number of each type of residential plot (A, D, E, and F) categorized according to their size ranging from 1500 m² to 150 m² and per individual street starting from the most highly connected street to the whole spatial layout, as shown in Figure 5.

Then, the correlation coefficient between the HH-value presented by Depth Map X and the number of plots according to their sizes existing on each street is measured (

Table 3. The HH-value from the axial analysis attributes (the connectivity) and the number of units per type in case study 1 (researcher).

Streets No.	Connectivity (HH-Value 1–2.4)	Range	Colour Indication	Type A No. of Units	Type D No. of Units	Type E No. of Units	Type F No. of Units
1	2.36	2.36–2.3	Red to Orange	5	10	0	0
2	2.34			0	4	1	6
3	2.3			0	16	0	11
4	2.27	2.27–2.21	Orange to Yellow	2	36	0	0
5	2.26			0	1	3	35
6	2.21			0	0	0	38
7	1.99	1.99–1.74	Yellow-Green	9	3	0	1
8	1.98			2	32	35	0
9	1.87			7	0	0	0
10	1.8			0	0	5	22
11	1.77			0	45	0	0
12	1.76			0	42	24	0
13	1.74			0	0	12	134
14	1.66	1.66–1.58	Green to Light Blue	18	0	0	0
15	1.65			32	40	6	124
16	1.61–1.58			10	12	3	46
The rest	1.57–1.1	1.57–1.1	Light Blue to Dark blue	8	250	268	230
Total				93	491	357	647
Correlation Coefficient between Connectivity and No. of Units			A	−0.470954069
			D	−0.2183320252
			E	−0.291323995
			F	−0.35865434

). Type A measure (−0.47) ≈ (0.5), which shows a moderate negative correlation that disagrees with the Iraqi regulation [18] and space syntax theory. While type D measures (−0.21), Type E measures (−0.29), and Type F measures (−0.35), which are less than 0.5 and mean primitive correlation detection. This gives a clear view that the width of the streets in the first study case is not taken into consideration or as criterion to determine the location of the residential plots according to their sizes.

All negative correlation coefficient values less than 0.5 in Table 3 and the extreme fluctuations of the number of units per type calculated according to the street’s connectivity are shown in Chart 2. This indicates low or no correlation between the variables mentioned above. If we set the correlation value in order starting with (−0.471) for type A, (−0.358) for type F, (−0.291) for type E, and last (−0.218) for type D, they show chaos. There is no consideration whatsoever of street width in locating the residential plots according to their sizes, which highlights a total neglect of the Iraqi regulation [18] in addition to the theories of space syntax.

6.2. Case Study 2: Qaiwan City Project

Another urban village in Sulaimanya city established in 2010 which also is considered one of the most extensive residential compounds in Iraq with world-class living [34], accommodating a total of 366 residential units from (14%) exclusive detached villas of 600 to 1000 m² (Type A), (24%) detached villas of 300 to 400 m² (Type D), (33%) semidetached houses of 240 to 270 m² (Type E), and (30%) row houses of up to 200 m² (Type F). The compound includes several facilities, as shown in Figure 6.

The Analysis

The axial map analysis determines the street with the highest HH-value, denoted by a red tone, grading down to orange, yellow, green, light blue, and dark blue (Figure 7a). The translations of the connectivity hierarchy of streets into numbers are shown in Figure 7b. Table 2 shows the resulting HH values from the connectivity analysis as the initial set of data input.

The next stage involved calculating the correlation coefficient between the street width and the HH value provided by Depth Map X (

Table 4. The HH-value from the axial analysis attributes (the connectivity) and the width of streets (researcher).

Streets No.	Connectivity (HH-Value 182–21)	Street Width (m)
1	182	20.4
2	169	15.6
3	156	24
4	99	23
5	99	15
6	97	9
7	95	10
8	92	10
9	91	11.3
10	91	14
11	77	10
12	74	10
13	69	10
14	65	10.5
15	61	10
The Rest	50–21	10
Correlation Coefficient between Connectivity and Street width		0.703241719

). The result displays a high positive correlation of (+0.703), demonstrating their strong association (Chart 3) and proving the transitive property mentioned earlier and leading to the second section.

Figure 8 illustrates how different types of residential units are distributed across the compound layout, giving a preview of the relationship.

The quantity of each category of residential unit (A, D, E, and F) are counted for each street, starting at the highest connected street and working down to the lowest, as shown in Figure 9. These unit sizes range from 1000 m² to 150 m².

The final stage involves measuring the correlation coefficient between the HH-value displayed by Depth Map X and the quantity of units according to their category on each street (

Table 5. The HH-value from the axial analysis attributes (the connectivity) and the number of units per type in case study 2 (researcher).

Streets No.	Connectivity (HH-Value 21–182)	Range	Colour Indication	Type A No. of Units	Type D No. of Units	Type E No. of Units	Type F No. of Units
1	182	182–156	Red to Orange	3	0	0	0
2	169			0	0	4	3
3	156			18	0	0	0
4	99	99–91	Yellow-Green	0	0	11	0
5	99			0	14	16	0
6	97			3	1	1	0
7	95			4	1	1	10
8	92			4	0	0	0
9	91			1	0	19	0
10	91			4	0	0	15
11	77	77–74	Green-Light Blue	0	4	1	0
12	74			0	3	1	17
13	69	69–61	Light Blue	0	0	7	10
14	65			0	14	0	0
15	61			0	2	1	16
The rest	50–21	50–21	Light Blue-Dark Blue	14	49	57	37
Total				51	88	119	108
Correlation Coefficient between Connectivity and No. of Units			A	0.454304966
			D	−0.318889155
			E	−0.092416278
			F	−0.40229181

). Type A measure (+0.40), type D measure (−0.31), type E measure (−0.09), and type F measure (−0.4).

In Table 5, the positive correlation coefficient value of (0.454) ≈ (0.5), of type A is an indication of a moderate correlation between the location of the most extensive plots in the case study and the widest streets. The values (−0.318) for type D, and (−0.402) for type F, indicate a weak negative correlation between the locations of type D and F with the street width, while the value (0.092) for type E, shows no correlation negatively or positively (Chart 4). This means that the street width is not considered a criterion to determine where the residential units, according to their size, would be located except for type A.

7. Discussion

The fluctuations of the quantity of plots per category (A, D, E, and F) calculated according to the street’s connectivity in both case studies indicate no positive correlation between the variables, with the exception of type A in the second one; a clear imbalance is monitored. The potential reasons behind this could be due to several aspects as cultural influences, modification in the block sizes that might happen during the construction stage, supply and demand, marketing strategies, and economic crisis among others. Whatever the reason might be, it has negative influences on the effectiveness of urban land exploitation.

A minor modification to the planned layout at an early design stage could affect how effectively the urban layout works. As a result, designers should consider utilizing a tool such as Depth Map X, which was used in this study.

Regarding the utility and exploitation of urban land to maximize sustainability, attitudes toward a stable positive correlation between street width and plot sizes in regulations are particular to places and observations. These beliefs are extensively covered in the Urban Housing Standards Manual (UHSM) of the Republic of Iraq, which was established and approved by the Ministry of Construction and Housing State, Commission of Housing Studies section.

Nobody can dispute the significance of homes to the life and future of any family, even while housing is generally considered an investment commodity and standards have a tendency to be perceived as a danger to that investment. The high potential investment ensures security and safety for investors in the housing sector in general and Iraqi families in particular.

8. Conclusions and Recommendations

The research highlights the significance of spatial connectedness and integration as critical elements in determining the configuration of urban blocks due to their capacity to provide a safer, healthier environment, and a sustainable and socially conscious plan that consequently will affect the rise in land value. The analysis leads to the following conclusions and recommendations:

• Measuring the statistical correlation coefficient between the street width and the HH-value displayed by Depth Map X results in (+0.606) for the first case study and (+0.703) for the second case study, both of which demonstrate a strong positive correlation and a significant relationship between the variables;
• Any newly designed urban layout must seriously consider the ratio between street width and urban block sizes specified in Iraqi roads and buildings regulation, law no. (44), in 1935, leading to guarantee the relationship between the connectivity of the streets and the size of urban blocks;
• According to Iraqi law no. 44, passed in 1935 [18], urban block sizes are significantly related to street width, and since space syntax has shown a correlation between street width and urban layout connectivity, the first section findings support the transitive property discussed in the research;
• Ensuring the positive statistical coefficient correlation between the number of urban blocks according to their size and connectivity will apply the benefits of urban integration mentioned by space syntax that will, accordingly, enhance land value growth.
• Urban design challenges (trial-and-error process) can be progressed smoother, simpler, and quicker by using space syntax theories and techniques in variable design stages.
• The properties with high investment value should be located on the most viral streets of the urban layout to ensure future land values growth and investment strategy. At the same time, smaller plots tend to create a more intimate and walkable environment and are limited in their value growth; therefore, they should be located on less viral streets, thus, striking a balance between plot size and connectivity is crucial;
• Designing an urban layout only in accordance with standard principles of urban planning, such as accessibility, circulation, mixed-use development, plot orientation, architectural unity, open spaces, and greenery. Furthermore, neglecting space syntax-emphasized principles such as connectivity, visibility, and integration/segregation can minimize the efficiency of the layout as a whole;
• In both study scenarios, there was a considerable imbalance in the number of residential plots of types A through F on each street. The effectiveness of the exploitation of urban land in the layout design is decreased by this imbalance, which is the reverse of what is anticipated and disagrees with the standards outlined by the Iraqi Roads and Buildings Regulation and the theories of space syntax. This imbalance mainly affects large plots (400–1500 m²);
• The analysis presented in this research shows the need for the institutions and authorities in charge of the housing sector to compel building enterprises working in this industry to adhere to these standards to boost real estate productivity and maximize the exploitation of urban land. A well-regulated and sustainable real estate market in Iraq concerning “sustainable communities” must be formed to minimize potential distortions. The administrative processes and regulatory framework governing construction standards must be examined, and modifications must be made when necessary.
• The framework presented in this study can be utilized in the first stages of any urban layout design with varied sizes to assess the suggested configuration and determine whether it needs to be changed. The results are therefore inconclusive and would necessitate a trial and error process. Future research may examine the direct effects of the previously indicated plot quantity imbalance on the efficiency of the exploitation of urban land.