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Spatial Configurations and Walkability Potentials. Measuring Urban Compactness with Space Syntax

Author

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  • Akkelies van Nes

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5020 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture, TU-Delft, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This contribution demonstrates how space syntax methods on various scale levels can be used to identify and describe the spatial features of a compact city. Firstly, the term urban compactness is discussed. A short discussion of some writings on the compact city are elaborated. As it transpired, urban compactness can best be approached from a spatial topological point of view, since compactness is a topological property. Secondly, urban compactness will be reconsidered in spatial configurative terms through the use of space syntax and urban micro scale tools. Examples from car-, pedestrian-, and public transport-based centres in Oslo and Bergen will be used throughout this contribution. Discussions of the examples in this contribution are discussed with references to other space syntax research results. As the case studies show, enhancing compact neighbourhoods with good walkability potential from a spatial perspective relies on spatial interaccessibility on all scale levels. Accessibility depends on spatial configurative compactness. Seemingly, it depends on the following complex set of sufficient conditions: a spatially integrated street network on all scale levels, short urban blocks and streets with building entrances with windows and doors on the ground floor level.

Suggested Citation

  • Akkelies van Nes, 2021. "Spatial Configurations and Walkability Potentials. Measuring Urban Compactness with Space Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5785-:d:559315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    2. Remco Elric de Koning & Hans Jacob Roald & Akkelies van Nes, 2020. "A Scientific Approach to the Densification Debate in Bergen Centre in Norway," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Akkelies van Nes, 2021. "The Impact of the Ring Roads on the Location Pattern of Shops in Town and City Centres. A Space Syntax Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Remco de Koning & Wendy Guan Zhen Tan & Akkelies van Nes, 2020. "Assessing Spatial Configurations and Transport Energy Usage for Planning Sustainable Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-23, October.
    5. Akkelies van Nes & Claudia Yamu, 2020. "Exploring Challenges in Space Syntax Theory Building: The Use of Positivist and Hermeneutic Explanatory Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Isti Hidayati & Claudia Yamu & Wendy Tan, 2019. "The Emergence of Mobility Inequality in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of Path Dependencies in Transport–Land Use Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Claudia Yamu & Akkelies van Nes & Chiara Garau, 2021. "Bill Hillier’s Legacy: Space Syntax—A Synopsis of Basic Concepts, Measures, and Empirical Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-25, March.
    8. Julia Vansetti Miranda & Akkelies van Nes, 2020. "Sexual Violence in the City: Space, Gender, and the Occurrence of Sexual Violence in Rotterdam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-29, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yedong Chen & Jiang Chang & Zixuan Li & Li Ming & Cankun Li & Cheng Li, 2023. "Coupling Coordination and Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Compactness and Land-Use Efficiency in Resource-Based Areas: A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, August.
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    4. Walid-Mahfoud Djenaihi & Noureddine Zemmouri & Moussadek Djenane & Akkelies van Nes, 2021. "Noise and Spatial Configuration in Biskra, Algeria—A Space Syntax Approach to Understand the Built Environment for Visually Impaired People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Heli Lu & Menglin Xia & Ziyuan Qin & Siqi Lu & Ruimin Guan & Yuna Yang & Changhong Miao & Taizheng Chen, 2022. "The Built Environment Assessment of Residential Areas in Wuhan during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Guiwen Liu & Cheng Li & Taozhi Zhuang & Yuhan Zheng & Hongjuan Wu & Jian Tang, 2022. "Determining the Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Urban Regeneration Projects in China on the City Scale: The Case of Shenzhen," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-27, July.
    7. Xiaoling Dai & Jiafeng Jin & Qianhu Chen & Xin Fang, 2022. "On Physical Urban Boundaries, Urban Sprawl, and Compactness Measurement: A Case Study of the Wen-Tai Region, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Kestutis Zaleckis & Szymon Chmielewski & Jūratė Kamičaitytė & Indre Grazuleviciute-Vileniske & Halina Lipińska, 2022. "Walkability Compass—A Space Syntax Solution for Comparative Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.

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