Yannis PARASKEVOPOULOS, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Stefanos TSIGDINOS, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Maria PIGAKI, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Since the theories of “natural movement” and “movement economy” were introduced by Hillier, the relation between network centrality and human activity has been at the forefront of typomorphological studies. There is extensive research exploring this link, however only a few focus on large geographical regions. In this study, we explore the relationship of network and functional centrality in the Attica, a large geographical region with rich historical significance and morphological diversity. Attica or Athens Urban Area to be exact, consists 412 km2 with a population of 3090508 people (2011 Census).
We set a threefold focus. First, to explore the centrality form of Attica by identifying its functional and network centrality clusters, second to investigate the geography of these centres and third to examine the correlation of functional and network centres in combination with the form form of the city, meaning the law-designated centres of Athens. At the core of our approach is to unearth the various scales in which the city functions and the different typologies that emerge during that process. To this end, space syntax analysis is performed at different radii that correspond with neighbourhood-, local-, city- and metropolitan-scale structures and the functional typologies are classified accordingly. All the necessary data derived by the Hellenic Statistical Authority, specifically the road-centre-line dataset used for the space syntax analysis, and the land-use dataset, which was available at block-level, used for the analysis of functional pattern. The outcome of this paper is a comprehensive analysis of the functional and configurational form of Attica, derived by fine-scale land-use data provided by official sources. Such study, in a region with the characteristics of Attica is missing from the typomorphological research and can potentially shed light on how historic Mediterranean cities are assembled and to what extent spatial configuration shape their form.
Mots clés : urban form|Attica|space syntax|patterns|spatial morphology
A105418YP