IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i6p3394-d520160.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bill Hillier’s Legacy: Space Syntax—A Synopsis of Basic Concepts, Measures, and Empirical Application

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia Yamu

    (Department of Spatial Planning and Environment, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Akkelies van Nes

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

  • Chiara Garau

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

Abstract

Bill Hillier’s space syntax method and theory enables us to describe the spatial properties of a sustainable city. Empirical testing of the space syntax method over time has confirmed the capacity and innovativeness of analyzing spatial relationships with the purpose of understanding and explaining the socio-spatial organization of built environments. However, the conceptual framework of space syntax elements is scattered around in various academic writings. This article, therefore, gives a holistic and compact overview of the various concepts that are used in space syntax, from its basic elements to various analytical techniques and theories. To achieve this compact overview, we reviewed all space syntax literature accessible since the 1970s for finding core references to various concepts used in space syntax. Following a short description of its foundation and evolution through the work of Bill Hillier, we explain its basic concepts and measures in the form of an extended glossary. Explanations are enriched with various space syntax analyses and scenario testing on various scales that were applied to the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. We conclude with a discussion about the advantages and limitations of space syntax and about how this method adds value to the creation of sustainable cities.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3394-:d:520160
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3394/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3394/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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. 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.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shiran Geng & Hing-Wah Chau & Elmira Jamei & Zora Vrcelj, 2022. "Understanding the Street Layout of Melbourne’s Chinatown as an Urban Heritage Precinct in a Grid System Using Space Syntax Methods and Field Observation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Peng Dai & Song Han & Guannan Fu & Hui Fu & Yanjun Wang, 2023. "Optimization Path of Metro Commercial Passageway Based on Computational Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    3. 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.
    4. Tara Azad Rauof, 2023. "Assessing Established Residential Compounds between Regulation and Reality Utilizing Space Syntax Theories," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Chen Weng & Jingyi Wang & Chunming Li & Rencai Dong & Chencan Lv & Yaran Jiao & Yonglin Zhang, 2022. "Recreational Green Space Service in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area: A Multiple Travel Modes Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Reza Askarizad & Jinliao He, 2022. "Perception of Spatial Legibility and Its Association with Human Mobility Patterns: An Empirical Assessment of the Historical Districts in Rasht, Iran," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Yue Peng & Hui Qiu & Xinlu Wang, 2023. "The Influence of Spatial Functions on the Public Space System of Traditional Settlements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, May.
    8. Nir Kaplan & Itzhak Omer, 2022. "Multiscale Accessibility—A New Perspective of Space Structuration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Islam Alshafei & Pinar Ulucay Righelato, 2022. "The Human Ecosystem Spatial Networks of Amman City Center: A New Methodological Approach towards Resiliency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    10. Indraja Germanaite & Kestutis Zaleckis & Rimantas Butleris, 2022. "SPDIAM: Methodology for Describing and Solving Spatial Problems in Territorial Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, August.
    11. Xiaoxiao Rao & Junda Zhou & Kangle Ding & Jifeng Wang & Jiaqi Fu & Qinghong Zhu, 2022. "Research on the Cultural Tracing of the Patriarchal Clan System of Traditional Buildings in the Eastern Zhejiang Province, China, Based on Space Syntax: The Case Study of Huzhai in Shaoxing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Zijie Zhou & Xin Zheng, 2022. "A Cultural Route Perspective on Rural Revitalization of Traditional Villages: A Case Study from Chishui, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    13. Longlong Zhang & Jingwen Yuan & Chulsoo Kim, 2022. "Sustainable Planning and Design of Ocean City Spatial Forms Based on Space Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    14. Ran Li & Liang Mao, 2022. "Spatial Characteristics of Suburban Villages Based on Spatial Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Kejie Cen & Xiaoxiao Rao & Zhuoxun Mao & Xiangyong Zheng & Dier Dong, 2023. "A Comparative Study on the Spatial Layout of Hui-Style and Wu-Style Traditional Dwellings and Their Culture Based on Space Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    16. Shaobo Zhou & Xiaodong Zang & Junheng Yang & Wanying Chen & Jiahao Li & Shuyi Chen, 2023. "Modelling the Coupling Relationship between Urban Road Spatial Structure and Traffic Flow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    17. Zixin Liang & Géza Várady & Márk Balázs Zagorácz, 2023. "Sustainable Application of Automatically Generated Multi-Agent System Model in Urban Renewal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, April.
    18. Elena Cantatore & Dario Esposito & Alberico Sonnessa, 2023. "Mapping the Multi-Vulnerabilities of Outdoor Places to Enhance the Resilience of Historic Urban Districts: The Case of the Apulian Region Exposed to Slow and Rapid-Onset Disasters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-28, September.
    19. Akkelies van Nes, 2021. "Spatial Configurations and Walkability Potentials. Measuring Urban Compactness with Space Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    20. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Akkelies van Nes, 2021. "Spatial Configurations and Walkability Potentials. Measuring Urban Compactness with Space Syntax," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    2. Mechthild Donner & Anne Verniquet & Jan Broeze & Katrin Kayser & Hugo de Vries, 2021. "Critical success and risk factors for circular business models valorising agricultural waste and by-products," Post-Print hal-03004851, HAL.
    3. Cornelis Leeuwen & Jos Frijns & Annemarie Wezel & Frans Ven, 2012. "City Blueprints: 24 Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of the Urban Water Cycle," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(8), pages 2177-2197, June.
    4. CHEN, Helen S.Y., 2020. "Designing Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chains," OSF Preprints m82ar, Center for Open Science.
    5. Jim Butcher, 2006. "The United Nations International Year of Ecotourism: a critical analysis of development implications," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 6(2), pages 146-156, April.
    6. Denise Ravet, 2011. "Lean production: the link between supply chain and sustainable development in an international environment," Post-Print hal-00691666, HAL.
    7. Mara Del Baldo, 2012. "Corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in Italian SMEs: the experience of some “spirited businesses”," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(1), pages 1-36, February.
    8. Megan Devonald & Nicola Jones & Sally Youssef, 2022. "‘We Have No Hope for Anything’: Exploring Interconnected Economic, Social and Environmental Risks to Adolescents in Lebanon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Rigby, Dan & Woodhouse, Phil & Young, Trevor & Burton, Michael, 2001. "Constructing a farm level indicator of sustainable agricultural practice," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 463-478, December.
    10. Michael Howes & Liana Wortley & Ruth Potts & Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes & Silvia Serrao-Neumann & Julie Davidson & Timothy Smith & Patrick Nunn, 2017. "Environmental Sustainability: A Case of Policy Implementation Failure?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, January.
    11. Shiferaw, Bekele & Holden, Stein, 1999. "Soil Erosion and Smallholders' Conservation Decisions in the Highlands of Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 739-752, April.
    12. Ibrahim Ari & Muammer Koc, 2018. "Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Development: Understanding the Interrelations between Public Investment and Sovereign Debt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-25, October.
    13. Parnphumeesup, Piya & Kerr, Sandy A., 2011. "Stakeholder preferences towards the sustainable development of CDM projects: Lessons from biomass (rice husk) CDM project in Thailand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3591-3601, June.
    14. Pengji Wang & Adrian T. H. Kuah & Qinye Lu & Caroline Wong & K. Thirumaran & Emmanuel Adegbite & Wesley Kendall, 2021. "The impact of value perceptions on purchase intention of sustainable luxury brands in China and the UK," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(3), pages 325-346, May.
    15. Christoph M. Schmidt & Nils aus dem Moore, 2014. "Wie geht es uns? Die W3-Indikatoren für eine neue Wohlstandsmessung," RWI Positionen, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, pages 16, 03.
    16. Katundu Imasiku & Valerie M. Thomas & Etienne Ntagwirumugara, 2020. "Unpacking Ecological Stress from Economic Activities for Sustainability and Resource Optimization in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, April.
    17. Chin-Shan Lu & Kuo-Chung Shang & Chi-Chang Lin, 2016. "Examining sustainability performance at ports: port managers’ perspectives on developing sustainable supply chains," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(8), pages 909-927, November.
    18. Kebede, Yohannes, 1993. "The Limits to Common Resource Management: The Bypassed Commons or Commons without Tragedy," MPRA Paper 662, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 May 1993.
    19. John Stanley & Janet Stanley, 2023. "Improving Appraisal Methodology for Land Use Transport Measures to Reduce Risk of Social Exclusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    20. Piotr Siemiątkowski & Patryk Tomaszewski & Joanna Marszałek-Kawa & Janusz Gierszewski, 2020. "The Financing of Renewable Energy Sources and the Level of Sustainable Development of Poland’s Provinces in the Area of Environmental Order," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3394-:d:520160. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.