人類自古群居，隨著地方人口增長以及商業的繁榮，都市也因應而生。工業革命後，世界人口都市化的現象更為明顯，估計本世紀中，全球將有一半以上的人口居住於都市內。在上世紀，西方的新興城市由於不當的發展策略，大量依賴自用運輸工具以及住宅區的郊區化，造成了都市擴張現象（urban sprawl）。都市擴張除了造成市區的衰退以及城市邊界的瓦解外，也被認為在公共建設以及交通運輸等方面造成自然資源的浪費。緊湊城市（compact city）的概念被提出，認為城市的緊密發展在都市生活的多樣化以及都市功能的效率化各方面，都較符合都市永續發展的概念。正如現今仍有許多古老的城鎮，歷經千年歷史，仍然風貌依舊，歷久不衰。
本論文以現今台南市傳統街廓作為研究對象，現況因虛空間的零碎和不足，造成住宅區空間品質不佳的衰頹狀況。現行都市法規以80%建蔽率和320%容積率的商業墓地設定，企圖促成都市更新。但本研究不先針對現存的容積率、建蔽率提出質疑，而是從中找出更有空間品質並且緊密的集居可能性。最終目標是使都市可以更新，新舊紋理能夠相容，讓地塊改建後可以符合環境品質及需求。
集居品質的關鍵在於三維空間裡的實體與虛空間的分布，因此選取了三種案例：台南市神農街街區、突尼斯市鎮街廓、以及巴黎市街廓。分析各案例的空間型態，探討怎樣的虛空間品質及孔隙分布，才能在不破壞現有紋理及樓層的高度之下，有效達到虛實空間的平衡。最後之設計提案為未來的發展提出了新的集居模式的可能性。

Gregarious is nature of mankind. With the growing population and commercial prosperity, city developed. After Industrial Revolution, urbanized population emerged more obviously. This century, it is estimated that more than half the world’s population will live in the city. In last century, the western new city because of inappropriate development strategies, including heavy reliance on own means of transport and residential suburbanization, resulted in the phenomenon of urban sprawl. It led to urban decline and the collapse of city boundary. It also was considered that wasting natural resources, such as infrustruction and transportation. So, the concept of compact city has been proposed. Compact urban development is more in line with the concept of sustainable development, in terms of urban life’s diversity and urban function’s efficiency. Just as many old towns, after years of history, their scenes remain.
This thesis took Tainan traditional block as the object. The piecemeal and inadequate void created poor quality of housing in the block. Existing regulations use the commercial volume rate (building coverage ratio of 80% and floor area ratio of 320%) to renew the city. This thesis does not question the existing volume, but find out the possibility of a better quality and compact housing from existing conditions. The ultimate aim is that city can update the old and new texture can be compatible. And letting the housing can meet the space quality and demands after the redevelopment for lots.
The key quality of compact hosing is the distribution of void and mass of three-dimensional space. So select three cases: Shen-None block in Tainan city, Tunis block, and Paris block. First, analyze the spatial patterns. Then, explore how qualities of void space and distributions of pore can effectively achieve the balance between void and mass space in the case of existing textures and height. Finally, the design proposes a new housing model for future development possibility.

中文及翻譯書籍
1.王維潔（1999）南歐廣場探索：由古希臘至文藝復興
2.王順治、吳讓治 （1997）台灣地區集合住宅之居住密度指標研究
3.石志偉（2002）傳統街屋使用特性之研究—以台南市神農街為例
4.翁金山（2001）台南市都市設計規畫綱要之研究3都市紋理暨形態之建構
5.曹乙賢（1984）編譯. 老子的智慧：聰慧、淵博、才智的代表者
6.蘆原義信（1962）著.王錦堂等（1973）譯. 外部空間之構成
7.Hillier ,Bill（1996）Space is the machine. 比爾.希利爾 著.楊滔等（2008）譯. 空間是機器—建築組構理論

外文書籍
1.Burton, E. (2002) ‘Measuring urban compactness in UK towns and cities’ Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design.
2.Hilary Ballon.(1991)The Paris of Henri IV
3.Marion Clawson. (1962)Urban Sprawl and Speculation in Suburban Land
4.Jamel A. Akbar.(1981) Responsibility and the traditional Muslim built environment
5.Jane Jacobs.(1961)The death and life of great American cities
6.Lock, D. (1995) ‘Room for more within city limits?’ Town and Country Planning.
7.Newman, P. (1992) ‘The Compact City: an Australian perspective’ Built Environment.
8.Thomas, L. and Cousins, W. (1996) ‘The Compact City: a successful, desirable and achievable urban form?’