Decoding Urban Spaces

During the past years Vienna has been more and more acknowledged as a benchmark for successful urban development and is often referred to as one of the most liveable cities of the word. The city is well-appreciated for its various qualities of the built environment, particularly for its flourishing neighbourhoods, public life and walkability within the districts. What makes Vienna¿s urban realm succeed and how can architects, urban designers and planners learn from it? The study shows how architecture, urban design and aspects of everyday life are interlinked through the spatial network of the city, thereby producing high-value urban environments. Employing Space Syntax theories and methods, the study attempts to decode Vienna¿s unique urban structure and networks, before applying the gained knowledge on space-making at `Seestadt Aspern¿ as one of Europe¿s largest mixed-use urban development currently under construction.The book provides insight into how rewarding it is to investigate in detail the urban structures of our existing cities. For students and professionals alike the application of Space Syntax methods can help to transfer analytical thinking into a creative process which takes into account the specific knowledge of how spatial configuration influences patterns of people.s behaviour.Anna RoseDirector, Space Syntax Limited