The Uses of Space Syntax Historical Research for Policy Development in Heritage Urbanism

Abstract

The application of space syntax methods to heritage related questions has a long track record both in the field of space syntax research and beyond, for example in archaeology. These studies deploy the theories and methods of space syntax to explore the socio-cultural dimension embedded in spatial systems of historic and archaeological significance. Space syntax analysis provides a link between the material and immaterial aspects of 'spatial' culture. It offers a critique of built environment typologies defined in terms of stylistic periodisation by advancing an understanding of the role of spatial configuration in the production and reproduction of space-time events. In the context of urban heritage studies, this means looking beyond the value of buildings as individual objects to buildings as elements in emergent arrangements of social space. Building on the comprehensive review of the disciplinary interface between urban history and space syntax historical studies provided by Griffiths (2012), this chapter advances 'heritage urbanism syntax' with the aim of orientating this body of historical research towards contemporary issues of urban heritage. It identifies three kinds of heritage urbanism syntax: (1) conservation areas; (2) street scales, and (3) spatial cultures in order to assist critical reflection on the application of this perspective to urban heritage contexts. The chapter highlights how a diachronic understanding of spatial cultures enables an integrative approach to heritage urbanism that situates heritage within both historical and contemporary urban landscapes. It describes the potential contribution of space syntax to inclusive bottom-up definitions of heritage and resilient heritage futures.

The Spatial Morphology of Community in Chipping Barnet c.1800–2015: An Historical Dialogue of Tangible and Intangible Heritages

“…Yet, there is a danger that an emphasis on defining boundaries according to their local plot-building characteristics, can lead morphogenetic descriptions to understate the influence of the global street network in sustaining centrality 'as a process' that re-produces the essential messiness of lively places [10]. Thus, without a configurational account of the historical street network, planners or heritage experts may struggle to challenge the largely functional planning designation of suburban space, as it does not give due regard to the importance of the encounter field as generative source of community life and spatial culture [13].…”

“…The notion of heritage syntax urbanism was proposed by Palaiologou and Griffiths to address the problem of identifying robust empirical descriptions of urban social space in the context of developing heritage policy [13]. It proposed: (a) prioritising a description that accounts for how the street network is configured as a globally connected system, rather than assessing the urban landscape's structure as if it were comprised of uniform and localised polygon shaped areas; (b) focusing on how streets contain varying patterns of social practices at different places within the local, urban, and regional network; and (c) characterising urban 'spatial culture' through a focus on how the characteristic patterning of community life is sustained through the intricate spatial variations within its built environment [14].…”

Urban Landscape and Spatial Heritage: The Case of Gateway-Pathways in Zagreb, Croatia

“…Subsequently, knowledge about existing methods and tools to study space as an historical cultural entity -such as space syntax historical research (see Palaiologou & Griffiths, 2019;also in Griffiths, 2009) -receives limited exposure, which acts as an impediment for interdisciplinary development and application (Griffiths, 2012).…”

Historical Analysis of the Example of Nowy Sącz in Space Syntax Perspective. Guidelines for Future Development of Urban Matrix in Medium-Sized Cities

“…Regarding the use of space syntax in the current practice of historical urbanism research, Griffiths (2012) [12] and Griffiths and Palaiologou (2019) [13] stand out. They identified possible future fields of research, explored heritage issues, and understood the role of spatial configuration in the context of urban heritage studies.…”