News
02.05.2008
Ljubljana competition win
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
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.
21.04.2008
La Defense, World Business Districts Network
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’Aménagement de la Défense). EPAD is a French public organisation responsible for developing the La Défense 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.
21.04.2008
RTPI Spatial Plans and Transport Planning Task Group
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.
26.03.2008
Udonthani, Thailand
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.
12.03.2008
Royal Festival Hall wins the Civic Trust's annual “NightVision” Award
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.
12.03.2008
Nottingham wins the treble
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.
03.03.2008
Valuing urban layout - project award
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.
23.01.2008
Tim Stonor briefs press on new physical activity guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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
08.01.2008
"Mixity" seminar at Space Syntax
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 8 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)