News
Progress briefing on “UrbanValue” tools at the
UrbanBuzz Showcase
31st October 2008
As part of the UrbanBuzz Showcase, Alain Chiaradia of Space Syntax will present a briefing on "UrbanValue",
a suite of software tools that value the effects of urban layouts on social and economic outcomes including crime patterns and land values. Developed and currently tested by local authorities and community users across the Greater South East of England, the tools offer town planners, transport planners, urban designers and spatial economists an evidence-informed methodology to value the effects of
layout decisions.
UrbanBuzz is a knowledge exchange and development project, funded by HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Its mission is to bring together experts in sustainability from such diverse disciplines as architecture, finance and management to foster a holistic approach to building sustainable communities. UrbanBuzz brings together policy makers, academics, developers, consultants, architects, residents and voluntary workers for the first time. The program is led by University College London within which University of East London is a prime partner.
i-VALUL, one the largest project in the UrbanBuzz programme, is led by Alain Chiaradia, Director at Space Syntax, and brings together over 20 public, private, higher education and voluntary sector organisations, including CABE, SEEDA, EEDA, UEL, UCL, GLA Economics, Savills Research, CBuchanan and JMP.
For more information and to book a place, please contact Ieva Ansaberga.
Space Syntax presents a new flood risk assessment methodology
2nd September2008
Space Syntax Associate, Jorge Gil, has presented a new flood risk assessment methodology at this year's Flood Recovery, Innovation and Response (FRIAR) conference. Exploiting GIS and spatial analysis technology, Space Syntax's new approach shows how movement patterns are transformed under flood conditions, thus allowing authorities to better plan relief efforts and post-flood movement strategies.
Current flood risk assessment and decision support tools - such as the Environment Agency's flood maps - focus on those areas directly affected by flooding. Space Syntax's new methodology, based on analysis of the entire movement network, visualises the impact of flood scenarios on the surviving street pattern. Gil's paper, titled "From flood risk to indirect flood impact: evaluation of street network performance for effective management, response and repair", presents a scenario in which central London is flooded following a breach of the Thames Barrier as a consequence of sea level rise.
The FRIAR conference was organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology and was held at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in London between 2nd and 3rd July.
To download .pdf version (1.8 MB) of the paper, please click here.
Space Syntax wins Woolwich Squares competition
10th July 2008
Working with Gustafson Porter Landscape Architects and a multidisciplinary team, Space Syntax has won the Woolwich Squares Design Competition to masterplan the redevelopment of General Gordon and Beresford Squares in Woolwich Town Centre. The proposed transformation forms a key part of Greenwich Council’s strategy to improve public realm conditions in Woolwich and will also form part of the Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces Programme. The improvements to Woolwich’s public realm come at a time of unprecedented regeneration activity in the area and have been conceived by Greenwich Council and Design for London as a series of linked spaces running through the town centre connecting Woolwich Common with the River Thames.
The winning design proposal consists of a generous curve that connects both Beresford and General Gordon Squares and is intended to emphasise the continuity of public space in the town centre. Space Syntax undertook spatial analyses and contributed masterplanning and public realm design advice to the team in developing the concept for the project.
Ljubljana competition win
2nd May 2008
Working with Hosoya Schaefer Architects and Wuest und Partner Real Estate Consultants of Zurich, Space Syntax has won the Ljubljana, Smartinska Partnership competition to create a masterplan for the redevelopment of a 250 Ha site in Ljubljana. The winning design re-connects the site with the wider city, including the central station area. The strategically important Smartinska site stretches from the central station to the city ringroad and includes "BTC City", one of the largest retail developments in Europe and a major economic driver for Lubljana. Space Syntax undertook spatial analysis and contributed masterplanning and public realm design advice to the team in developing the concept for the project.
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
1st May 2008
Space Syntax director Professor Alan Penn has won the UCL Advances "Entrepreneurial Spirit" Award for his achievements in academia and business. Alan co-founded Space Syntax Limited in 1989 and now divides his time between the company and his teaching/research at UCL.
Watch a video about Alan and his work at Space Syntax.
La Defense, World Business Districts Network
21st April 2008
Space Syntax director Alain Chiaradia has joined the Scientific Committee of the World Business Districts Summit for Sustainable Development, initiative led by EPAD (Etablissement Public d’Am?nagement de la D?fense). EPAD is a French public organisation responsible for developing the La D?fense business district close to the centre of Paris. EPAD is proposing that the world's business districts federate their efforts around strong, concrete and measurable commitments contained in a Sustainable Development Agreement for Business Districts.
The Scientific Committee has following objectives:
- to review the Sustainable Development Agreement for Business Districts drafted by the Scientific Committee of EPAD and to propose amendments if needed
- to recommend a procedure to assess the baseline situation in the business districts members of the World Business Districts Network, e.g. to establish their level of energy or water consumption, their waste management systems, transport schemes, etc.
- to offer its scientific opinion on the guidelines and operational recommendations, with specific and appraisable targets, produced by the technical committees of the World Business Districts Network
- to monitor innovations in the field of sustainable development in dense urban areas and to inform EPAD as necessary
- to help draft the World Business Districts Network annual action plan.
RTPI Spatial Plans and Transport Planning Task GroupNews
21st April 2008
Space Syntax director Alain Chiaradia has joined the Spatial Plans and Transport Planning Task Group of the UK Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The mission of the task group is to develop new approaches and opportunities for more effective integration of land-use and transport planning within a spatial planning framework.
A major opportunity and challenge for positive spatial planning is its approach to planning infrastructure. A number of recent reports and Government policy statements have highlighted the need for more effective integration of land-use and transport planning, in particular. A co-ordinated approach is required at national, regional, sub-regional and local levels, requiring different mechanisms and approaches.
The RTPI Development Planning and Transport Planning Networks recognises these challenges and this new task group will explore the issues and in particular focus on the relationship between spatial plans and transport planning.
Udonthani, Thailand
26th March 2008
Work progresses on the construction of a major new public park in Udonthani, Thailand. Space Syntax has provided strategic design advice to De-Sign Science architects for a project that will create a new civic centre for the city.
Royal Festival Hall wins the Civic Trust's annual “NightVision” Award
12th March 2008
The project was described by the assesors as being "a fantastic contribution to the public realm, providing a world class public space for the London’s South Bank”. Space Syntax supported lead designers Allies and Morrison in the early stages of the design by providing advice in two areas: a) visitor activity patterns throughout the multi-level public foyers and b) effective workplace communications in the back-of-house staff areas.
Nottingham wins the treble
12th March 2008
The redesign of the Old Market Square in Nottingham has won three coveted Civic Trust Awards for a) “Outstanding contribution to the public realm”, b) the Centre Vision Award for “Best practice in town centre regeneration” and c) the Charcon Hard Landscaping Award. Space Syntax undertook extensive site analysis and provided public realm design advice to Gustafson Porter Landscape Architects in developing the concept for the project which, after Trafalgar Square is the second largest public space in Britain.
Valuing urban layout - project award
3rd March 2008
Space Syntax has been awarded the i-VALUL contract to lead 46 organisations in developing tools to value the effects of urban layout in areas such as property prices and crime impact.
Tim Stonor briefs press on new physical activity guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
23rd January 2008
Speaking on behalf of the NICE Guidance Development Group (GDG), Space Syntax Managing Director Tim Stonor today briefed the press on forthcoming guidance on physical activity and the environment. Tim worked as a member of the GDG for 12 months to create the guidance, which promotes buildings and urban areas that support increased levels of physical activity.
Download Tim Stonor's NICE Statement (62 KB)
For the NICE guidance click here
"Mixity" seminar at Space Syntax
8th January 2008
Space Syntax and the Central London Partnership co-hosted ‘Mixity’, a forum for discussion on the challenges of making mixed use work in Central London, on 8th January in the Spitalfields offices of Space Syntax.
The event was compered by Professor Tony Travers, Director of Greater London Group at the London School of Economics, and featured Yolande Barnes, Directors of Savills Research, and Professor Bill Hillier of Space Syntax and University College London.
Download Professor Hillier’s presentation (6 MB)
Download Yolande Barnes' presentation (700 KB)