Abstract
Space syntax, the analytical tool of this study, is a set of techniques for representation and quantification of spatial patterns of buildings. In this paper quantitative analysis is performed in order to observe the relationship between privacy as cultural specific and the spatial configuration of the settlement in the city of Ghadames.The analysis is conducted on two levels of detail. Level of the whole Ghadames including three unconventional axial maps representing ground floor (male domain), upper floor (female domain), and the whole spatial system with entrances of buildings embedded. The second level of analysis covers nine sites representing three different cultural communities within Ghadames( Arab, Barbar and Tuarg). These community areas are analyzed as embedded within the city (embedded model) and as separated (cut out model).Analysis results indicate that ground floor (male domain) seems to be more locally and globally integrated than that of upper floor (female domain). Moreover, spaces of ground floor are more visually connected than the upper floor, which reveals that greater possibility in route choice for the users of ground floor. Their movement from one place to another is less restricted than that of the female in upper floor. Furthermore the results show that mechanisms are the physical elements that facilitate or impede privacy regulation in the city and/or enable users themselves to regulate privacy through their own locales.