VIRTUAL London.

Abstract

The transformation of former industrial waterfronts into new mixed-use and residential neighborhoods has emerged as one of the prominent urban development trends in numerous cities over the past two decades. Substantial public and private investments have been directed towards housing and infrastructure development in these areas, motivated by the promise of creating vibrant public spaces and offering premium amenities to residents. However, such investments have also faced criticism for catering primarily to affluent demographics, resulting in an overabundance of market-rate housing and the physical isolation of such areas from the rest of the city. This paper aims to investigate the application of space syntax analysis in assessing the connectivity and integration of waterfront areas with the broader city. Specifically, it seeks to explore if and how the space syntax concept can be used in deciding the physical form, street layout, and land use distribution in such areas to offer a more connected area and better integration with the urban fabric. To achieve this objective, three waterfront areas—Västrahamnen in Malmö, Oceanhamnen in Helsingborg, and Slusholmen in Copenhagen—are scrutinized in this study. Depth map X software and GIS data, including the land use data and street network, will be used to analyze the quality and configuration of corridors and gateways connecting the recently developed waterfront areas to the city center(s). The results of the study highlight the significance of spatial configuration in the functionality, connectivity, and integration of newly developed areas, particularly in waterfront settings, with the broader city.