Interconnected places

Description

An online, self-paced introduction to 'space syntax' and the importance of urban networks.

Overview

The Interconnected places course is designed to build understanding of the network systems which underpin our cities. The course uses a set of theories and techniques known as ‘space syntax’ to explain how street networks shape human movement and interaction. We explore how urban street networks work at multiple scales to influence many different urban phenomena from mobility to social vitality, and from economic productivity to environmental sustainability. We also consider the ‘latent’, or ‘hidden potentials’ associated with the built environment and explore how ‘space syntax’ can be applied to reveal these potentials. Finally, we demonstrate how ‘space syntax’ can be harnessed by designers, architects, planners and city leaders to create cities that are thriving, healthy and green places to live and work.

Approach

The course is composed of four short parts that you can access and come back to whenever you have time to engage and learn. The material is dynamic and interactive, with the opportunity to test new knowledge at the end of each part.  

Who? The course is aimed at people who are interested in cities, systems and urban processes. This could include urban planners; architects; civil servants and city leaders; public and private sector chief executives; academics; directors of strategy; coordinators and facilitators of urban networks; and politicians. No prior technical knowledge is required to complete the course.  

Approach

There are four parts of the course – with each taking between 30 minutes and 1 hour to complete: 

Part 1 | How systems thinking helps us to understand cities 

Here we introduce systems thinking, which underpins much of ‘space syntax’ theory and explore why this is important for understanding cities. We set systems thinking in the context of urban design and planning history. We also start to consider the ways in which connected street networks underpin lively cities.

Part 2 | 'Space syntax' & the network properties of street systems 

This part of the course explores how the set of theories and techniques known as ‘space syntax’ can be used to understand street networks in further detail. We will identify how cities host ‘to movement’ and ‘through movement’ and consider the ‘multiscale’ quality of city streets. The basic principles of graph theory are introduced as a means for understanding the ‘spatial configuration’, or layout, of cities.

Part 3 | How street networks influence urban development - including land use, the economy, health & our carbon footprint 

This part of the course explores the link between ‘space syntax’ and urban outcomes, considering how street networks influence sustainable urban development. A number of themes are explored: movement, land use, economic prosperity, health and the environment.

Part 4 | The processes by which the built environment influences social outcomes

This final part of the course explores in further detail how the built environment comes to influence individual and societal outcomes, looking at the link between street systems, transport services, behaviours, lifestyles and societal outcomes. It also introduces the concepts of ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ data as a means for better understanding how space syntax analysis can be harnessed to create ‘smarter cities’.

Glossary

Creative team

Dr Francesca Froy	Helen Cheon
Ed Parham	Prof Tim Stonor

Special thanks: Su Jin Kwon