Associativity of Spatial Nodes to Healthy Living Environments: Insights from Baghdad, Iraq

Urban nodes act as connecting cores of the urban environments, actively contributing to spatial connectivity and the developments of vital locations within the cities.This paper presents the concept of 'spatial associativity' as a dimension of sustainable healthy places in cities.The problem lies in trying to encourage the use of public urban nodes because they possess urban indicators with features that enhance the urban and social interaction aspects and ultimately contribute to improving health.The study uses a descriptive analytical approach to identify associativity indicators that support the growth of healthy nodes.The "DepthMap8" application was utilized to facilitate the two primary analytical techniques for spatial syntax: axial graph analysis (AGA) and visual graph analysis (VGA).Additionally, the reliability utilizing the Alpha coefficient were ascertained by using SPSS to analyze the research sample and questionnaire.This gives a better understanding of the spatial configuration of space and its impact on human behavior in the study area and to verify the possibility of the health node's sustainability.The findings show that the spatial formation of the entire area had a substantial impact on the achievement of associativity indicators in the selected urban node through (Connectivity, Legibility, and Integration indicators).Similarly, the research demonstrates some secondary indicators that assist link the area to its urban surroundings, which adds vitality to the process of urban spatial formation and aids in the creation of a healthy urban environment.