Reading urban spaces by the space-syntax method: A proposal for the South Halic Region

Abstract

Cities are like living organisms going through constant change and transformations. This condition has demanded the development of suitable and adaptive design solutions that require the full consideration of the spatial continuity of the city, its physical and social peculiarities, user needs, and desire for safe and healthy communities. In addition, architects and designers need to be familiar with the developmental stages of the city, including components that may have disappeared over time. It is therefore necessary to read different segments that constitute the city to reveal its historical, cultural, social, physical and symbolic features. The aim of this study was to implement a methodology: (1) to determine the social and physical problems of a historical urban space and subsequently (2) to offer recommendations that attempt to improve the identified problems. The South Halic Area in Istanbul was chosen as the case study because of its historical and cultural significance and the importance that should be placed on its preservation for future generations. We relied on the space-syntax methodology to analyze the area and offer a number of design interventions. These recommendations were evaluated using the same methodology to illustrate the degree to which they would improve upon the current conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.