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Papers by Irini Perdikogianni
Proceedings 4th International Space Syntax …, 2003
... Heraklion's historical core functions as the core of its urban tissue, housing all its c... more ... Heraklion's historical core functions as the core of its urban tissue, housing all its central activities despite Irini Perdikogianni University College London, UK ... dwellers by dividing, enclosing, and rendering space exclusive. (Georgopoulou M., 2001, p.48). ...
This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC S... more This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme) and describes a "well-working" diverse area in London; Clerkenwell. It further builds up empirical evidence of the relationship between land use diversity and urban sustainability. It is often argued that a diverse urban environment can be seen as a positive component for sustainable urban communities. However, it is possible to find diverse areas, which fail to "work". By identifying the absence of a robust definition of diversity, the paper describes Clerkenwell's large-scale spatial and functional patterning in detail and identifies that it comprises a system of different centres of activity developed around locally strategic streets. Its occupational patterns emerged by observation-based land use, pedestrian and traffic flow surveys correlated with configurational measures that describe its structure. This paper suggests that cities should be understood as a dynamic product of a long historical process, based on the cause-effect relation between "physical city" (means)-"functional city" (ends). Then, urban sustainability although it refers to the ends, is always bound to means-ends binary relation
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s experience of a “place”. The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term “urban narrative” describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city’s cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued “places” that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the “sense of place” as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual’s perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of u...
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s experience of a “place”. The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term “urban narrative” describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city’s cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued “places” that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the “sense of place” as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual’s perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of u...
This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of tw... more This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of two Cretan cities: Heraklion and Chania. It originates from a puzzle, related to the function of these two settlements as they are today. The paper aims at exploring the reasons for this difference. In this framework, it reveals a problem as to whether these different contemporary functional patterns are the product of pure chance, historical accident or of spatial factors such as the location of particular facilities or attractions. The study is based on the conjecture that the morphology of their grid differs, and this is reflected in their different functional patterns. This paper therefore explores the interrelation between space and function in the two cases. The spatio-analytical method employed is “space syntax”. The spatial analysis suggested syntactic differences during their evolution process may account for their different functional patterns. In the light of its research questi...
5th International Space Syntax Symposium, 2005
The 2006 Annual General Conference fof Canadian Society for Civil Engineering , 2006
This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC S... more This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme) and describes a "well-working" diverse area in London; Clerkenwell. It further builds up empirical evidence of the relationship between land use diversity and urban sustainability. It is often argued that a diverse urban environment can be seen as a positive component for sustainable urban communities. However, it is possible to find diverse areas, which fail to "work". By identifying the absence of a robust definition of diversity, the paper describes Clerkenwell's large-scale spatial and functional patterning in detail and identifies that it comprises a system of different centres of activity developed around locally strategic streets. Its occupational patterns emerged by observation-based land use, pedestrian and traffic flow surveys correlated with configurational measures that describe its structure. This paper suggests that cities should be understood as a dynamic product of a long historical process, based on the cause-effect relation between "physical city" (means)-"functional city" (ends). Then, urban sustainability although it refers to the ends, is always bound to means-ends binary relation
Proceedings 6th international Space Syntax Symposium, 2007
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and "urban narrative" in individual's exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and "urban narrative" in individual's experience of a "place". The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term "urban narrative" describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city's cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued "places" that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the "sense of place" as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual's perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of urban areas with a lack of methods to deal with the physical and attitudinal together. This currently forms the major scientific challenge: to develop methods to bring together the analysis of urban structure, design and morphology with the broadly qualitative investigation of individual and community perceptions, attitudes and aspirations. This paper does not report new research results but it suggests a finer grain of analysis of neighbourhoods by differentiating the concept of "configured" space from the notion of "place". Setting the Scene The last decades that residential mobility has increased with a great number of people relocating themselves to new neighbourhoods, cities or countries, the challenge for recognisable and valued "places" became imperative need for distinctive urban environments that reinforce and sustain social and economic networks. Decision-makers and urban designers are in quest either for creating new sustainable urban neighbourhoods that will reinforce economic and demographic growth or for "re-designing" the old ones and creating a new positive dynamic for the existing social and economic forces within them. Haughton and Hunter (1994) describe a sustainable city as 'one in which its people and businesses continuously endeavour to improve their natural, built and cultural environments at neighbourhood and Keywords: Neighbourhood "Place" "Configured" space "Place" identity "Sense of place" Phenomenology Irini Perdikogianni
44 th International Making Cities Livable Conference, 2006
This paper investigates the mechanisms that contribute to the heterogeneous nature of Clerkenwell... more This paper investigates the mechanisms that contribute to the heterogeneous nature of Clerkenwell in the north fringe of central London and lead to it being a "well-working" diverse area. It is based on findings of research being undertaken by the research project VivaCity 2020, funded by EPSRC (Sustainable Urban Environment Programme). In literature, diversity especially land use diversity has a positive relationship with what is considered a "well-working" urban area. However lived experience suggests that there are no precise description of a "successful" urban environment but it is one of those phenomena that "you know when you see it". The paper deals with the notion of differentiation and choice that diversity implies, and the concepts of legibility and intelligibility, introduced by Lynch and Hillier respectively, to retrieve identities and structures from the physical environment that surrounds us. Through an analysis of correlation of spatial and occupational patterns, based on space syntax methodology, Clerkenwell is found to be a fragmented but structured system of different centers of activity developed around locally strategic streets. This paper argues that one part of its success lies in exactly the maintenance of a relatively complex and difficult to understand whole composed of relatively easy to understand parts. This may account for the longevity and diversity of local economy and urban fabric. Perhaps this can become a model for urban planners and decisions makers in seeking to reproduce the vibrancy of the 19 th century European city.
Proceedings; '4th International Space Syntax Symposium , 2003
This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of tw... more This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of two Cretan cities: Heraklion and Chania. It originates from a puzzle, related to the function of these two settlements as they are today. The paper aims at exploring the reasons for this difference. In this framework, it reveals a problem as to whether these different contemporary functional patterns are the product of pure chance, historical accident or of spatial factors such as the location of particular facilities or attractions. The study is based on the conjecture that the morphology of their grid differs, and this is reflected in their different functional patterns. This paper therefore explores the interrelation between space and function in the two cases. The spatio-analytical method employed is "space syntax". The spatial analysis suggested syntactic differences during their evolution process may account for their different functional patterns. In the light of its research question, considering the limited data, the paper shows that syntactic analysis especially the radius-radius analysis related to the land use pattern, is a promising line for further research with more complete data. The paper begins by establishing the puzzle. Concepts like "centrality" and ultimately "live centrality" are developed, both strongly influenced by movement according to the theories of "natural movement" and "movement economy" (Hillier, 1993, 1996). Next, the paper describes the methodology and the data used. Then the two cases are reviewed and the paper ends with a discussion in the light of research findings related to the initial question and to concepts developed in the theoretical framework.
Proceedings 4th International Space Syntax …, 2003
... Heraklion's historical core functions as the core of its urban tissue, housing all its c... more ... Heraklion's historical core functions as the core of its urban tissue, housing all its central activities despite Irini Perdikogianni University College London, UK ... dwellers by dividing, enclosing, and rendering space exclusive. (Georgopoulou M., 2001, p.48). ...
This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC S... more This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme) and describes a "well-working" diverse area in London; Clerkenwell. It further builds up empirical evidence of the relationship between land use diversity and urban sustainability. It is often argued that a diverse urban environment can be seen as a positive component for sustainable urban communities. However, it is possible to find diverse areas, which fail to "work". By identifying the absence of a robust definition of diversity, the paper describes Clerkenwell's large-scale spatial and functional patterning in detail and identifies that it comprises a system of different centres of activity developed around locally strategic streets. Its occupational patterns emerged by observation-based land use, pedestrian and traffic flow surveys correlated with configurational measures that describe its structure. This paper suggests that cities should be understood as a dynamic product of a long historical process, based on the cause-effect relation between "physical city" (means)-"functional city" (ends). Then, urban sustainability although it refers to the ends, is always bound to means-ends binary relation
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s experience of a “place”. The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term “urban narrative” describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city’s cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued “places” that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the “sense of place” as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual’s perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of u...
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and “urban narrative” in individual’s experience of a “place”. The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term “urban narrative” describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city’s cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued “places” that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the “sense of place” as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual’s perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of u...
This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of tw... more This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of two Cretan cities: Heraklion and Chania. It originates from a puzzle, related to the function of these two settlements as they are today. The paper aims at exploring the reasons for this difference. In this framework, it reveals a problem as to whether these different contemporary functional patterns are the product of pure chance, historical accident or of spatial factors such as the location of particular facilities or attractions. The study is based on the conjecture that the morphology of their grid differs, and this is reflected in their different functional patterns. This paper therefore explores the interrelation between space and function in the two cases. The spatio-analytical method employed is “space syntax”. The spatial analysis suggested syntactic differences during their evolution process may account for their different functional patterns. In the light of its research questi...
5th International Space Syntax Symposium, 2005
The 2006 Annual General Conference fof Canadian Society for Civil Engineering , 2006
This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC S... more This paper draws on current research being undertaken under the VivaCity 2020 Consortium (EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme) and describes a "well-working" diverse area in London; Clerkenwell. It further builds up empirical evidence of the relationship between land use diversity and urban sustainability. It is often argued that a diverse urban environment can be seen as a positive component for sustainable urban communities. However, it is possible to find diverse areas, which fail to "work". By identifying the absence of a robust definition of diversity, the paper describes Clerkenwell's large-scale spatial and functional patterning in detail and identifies that it comprises a system of different centres of activity developed around locally strategic streets. Its occupational patterns emerged by observation-based land use, pedestrian and traffic flow surveys correlated with configurational measures that describe its structure. This paper suggests that cities should be understood as a dynamic product of a long historical process, based on the cause-effect relation between "physical city" (means)-"functional city" (ends). Then, urban sustainability although it refers to the ends, is always bound to means-ends binary relation
Proceedings 6th international Space Syntax Symposium, 2007
This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and "urban narrative" in individual's exper... more This paper investigates the role of spatial structure and "urban narrative" in individual's experience of a "place". The spatial structure describes the actual space that individual navigates and occupies through its everyday activities. Whereas the term "urban narrative" describes the factors in urban history and social culture that create an imagined space that evolves through historical time and is navigated through city's cultural mythology. A main challenge that urban designers and planners are facing is of creating recognisable and valued "places" that people would like to live and work in. This paper deals with the nature of neighbourhood as spatial, social and economic phenomenon and brings to the fore the "sense of place" as its intrinsic characteristic. It is acknowledged that the latter has a long history of investigation. However, to date the research has focused either on individual's perceptions or attitudes towards geographical spaces or the local design features of urban areas with a lack of methods to deal with the physical and attitudinal together. This currently forms the major scientific challenge: to develop methods to bring together the analysis of urban structure, design and morphology with the broadly qualitative investigation of individual and community perceptions, attitudes and aspirations. This paper does not report new research results but it suggests a finer grain of analysis of neighbourhoods by differentiating the concept of "configured" space from the notion of "place". Setting the Scene The last decades that residential mobility has increased with a great number of people relocating themselves to new neighbourhoods, cities or countries, the challenge for recognisable and valued "places" became imperative need for distinctive urban environments that reinforce and sustain social and economic networks. Decision-makers and urban designers are in quest either for creating new sustainable urban neighbourhoods that will reinforce economic and demographic growth or for "re-designing" the old ones and creating a new positive dynamic for the existing social and economic forces within them. Haughton and Hunter (1994) describe a sustainable city as 'one in which its people and businesses continuously endeavour to improve their natural, built and cultural environments at neighbourhood and Keywords: Neighbourhood "Place" "Configured" space "Place" identity "Sense of place" Phenomenology Irini Perdikogianni
44 th International Making Cities Livable Conference, 2006
This paper investigates the mechanisms that contribute to the heterogeneous nature of Clerkenwell... more This paper investigates the mechanisms that contribute to the heterogeneous nature of Clerkenwell in the north fringe of central London and lead to it being a "well-working" diverse area. It is based on findings of research being undertaken by the research project VivaCity 2020, funded by EPSRC (Sustainable Urban Environment Programme). In literature, diversity especially land use diversity has a positive relationship with what is considered a "well-working" urban area. However lived experience suggests that there are no precise description of a "successful" urban environment but it is one of those phenomena that "you know when you see it". The paper deals with the notion of differentiation and choice that diversity implies, and the concepts of legibility and intelligibility, introduced by Lynch and Hillier respectively, to retrieve identities and structures from the physical environment that surrounds us. Through an analysis of correlation of spatial and occupational patterns, based on space syntax methodology, Clerkenwell is found to be a fragmented but structured system of different centers of activity developed around locally strategic streets. This paper argues that one part of its success lies in exactly the maintenance of a relatively complex and difficult to understand whole composed of relatively easy to understand parts. This may account for the longevity and diversity of local economy and urban fabric. Perhaps this can become a model for urban planners and decisions makers in seeking to reproduce the vibrancy of the 19 th century European city.
Proceedings; '4th International Space Syntax Symposium , 2003
This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of tw... more This paper takes a comparative approach to the evolution of spatial and functional patterns of two Cretan cities: Heraklion and Chania. It originates from a puzzle, related to the function of these two settlements as they are today. The paper aims at exploring the reasons for this difference. In this framework, it reveals a problem as to whether these different contemporary functional patterns are the product of pure chance, historical accident or of spatial factors such as the location of particular facilities or attractions. The study is based on the conjecture that the morphology of their grid differs, and this is reflected in their different functional patterns. This paper therefore explores the interrelation between space and function in the two cases. The spatio-analytical method employed is "space syntax". The spatial analysis suggested syntactic differences during their evolution process may account for their different functional patterns. In the light of its research question, considering the limited data, the paper shows that syntactic analysis especially the radius-radius analysis related to the land use pattern, is a promising line for further research with more complete data. The paper begins by establishing the puzzle. Concepts like "centrality" and ultimately "live centrality" are developed, both strongly influenced by movement according to the theories of "natural movement" and "movement economy" (Hillier, 1993, 1996). Next, the paper describes the methodology and the data used. Then the two cases are reviewed and the paper ends with a discussion in the light of research findings related to the initial question and to concepts developed in the theoretical framework.