Comparing and Combining the Axial with the Network Maps for Analyzing Urban Street Pattern

Authors: Nophaket Napong

Abstract:

Rooted in the study of social functioning of space in architecture, Space Syntax (SS) and the more recent Network Pattern (NP) researches demonstrate the 'spatial structures' of city, i.e. the hierarchical patterns of streets, junctions and alley ends. Applying SS and NP models, planners can conceptualize the real city-s patterns. Although, both models yield the optimal path of the city their underpinning displays of the city-s spatial configuration differ. The Axial Map analyzes the topological non-distance-based connectivity structure, whereas, the Central-Node Map and the Shortcut-Path Map, in contrast, analyze the metrical distance-based structures. This research contrasts and combines them to understand various forms of city-s structures. It concludes that, while they reveal different spatial structures, Space Syntax and Network Pattern urban models support each the other. Combining together they simulate the global access and the locally compact structures namely the central nodes and the shortcuts for the city.

Keywords: Street pattern, space syntax, syntactic and metrical models, network pattern models.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1329871

References:

[1] Smart Growth Online. Smart Growth Principles, Create Walkable Neighborhoods. www.smartgrowth.org/engine/index.php/principles/walkable. Accessed August 1, 2010.
[2] Roger, E., Karl, K., Mriganka, S., and Louise, W. Delivering Quality Places: Urban Design Compendium 2. English Partnerships, London, 2007. www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk. Accessed August 1, 2010.
[3] Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984.
[4] Hawley, A. Human Ecology Space Time and Urbanization. Urban Society, Ronald Press, New York, 1971.
[5] Schnore, L. Social Morphology and Human Ecology. in Theodorson, G. (ed). Urban Pattern. Penn State Press, Pennsylvania, 1982.
[6] Durkheim, E. De la division du travail social. in Simpson, G. (trans). The Division of Labor in Society. Macmillan Press, London, 1933.
[7] Foucault, M. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage, New York, 1979.
[8] Markus, A. Buildings as classifying devices. Environmental and Planning B, 14, 1987, pp. 467-484.
[9] Choi, Y. The spatial structure of power. Environmental and Planning B, 30, 2003, pp. 589-603.
[10] Nophaket, N. Analysis on Street Pattern using Network Theory: Network Pattern Model. unpublished ph.d. dissertation, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 2004.
[11] Nophaket, N. The Graph Geometry for Architectural Planning. Journal of Asian Architectural and Building Engineering, 3.1, 2004, pp. 157 - 164.
[12] Nophaket, N. and Fujii, A. Syntactic and Network Pattern Structures of City: Comparison of Grid and Meandering Street Patterns in Kyojima and Honjo. Journal of Asian Architectural and Building Engineering, 3.2, 2004, pp. 349 - 356.
[13] Hillier, B. et al. Natural Movement: or, configuration and attraction in urban pedestrian movement. Environment and Planning B, 20, 1993, pp. 29 - 66.
[14] Hillier, B. Space is the Machine. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996.
[15] Hillier, B. Cities as movement economies. Urban Design International, 1, 1996, pp. 49 - 60.
[16] Hillier, B. The Common Language of Space. Space Syntax Laboratory, University College London, London, 1998. www.spacesyntax.org. Accessed September 19, 2002.
[17] Hillier, B. The hidden geometry of deformed grids: or, why Space Syntax works, when it looks as though it shouldn-t. Environment and Planning B, 26, 1999, pp. 169 - 191.
[18] Kitahara, T. Conserving the walkable environment in the neighborhood. International Walking Conference Australia, 2001.
[19] Larkham, P. J. Urban Morphology and Typology in the United Kingdom. in Attilio, P. (ed). In Typological Process and Design Theory. Aga Khan Program for Isamic Architecture, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1998. www.archnet.org/library/documents/onedocument. jsp?document_id=3798. Accessed August 1, 2010.
[20] Jones, N. and Larkham, P.J. A Glossary on Urban Form. Historical Geography Research no.26, Geo Books, 1991.
[21] Moudon, A. V. Getting to Know the Built Landscape: Typomorphology. in Franck, K. A. and Lynda, H. S. (ed). Ordering Space: Types in Architecture and Design. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1994.
[22] Gibbons, A. Algorithmic Graph Theory. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, 1985.
[23] Lim, W. Cities for People: Reflections of a Southeast Asian Architect. Select Books, Singapore, 1990.