Conference proceedings by Kailun Sun
ISUF 2017 XXIV international conference: City and territory in the globalization age, 2017
Typologies play a role in urban studies since a long time, but definitions are often rather abstr... more Typologies play a role in urban studies since a long time, but definitions are often rather abstract, ill-defined and at worst end in fixed stereotypes hiding underlying spatial complexity. Traditional typologies are focussing on separate elements, which allow for understanding crucial differences of one spatial feature in greater detail, but lack the capacity to capture the interrelation between elements. Further, they often focus on one scale level and therefore lack to acknowledge for interscalarity. Recent publications define morphological typologies based on quantitative variables, building on the seminal book´Urban Space and Structures´by Martin and March, published in 1972, but using more advanced spatial analysis and statistics. These approaches contribute to the discussion of types in two ways: firstly, they define types in a precise and repeatable manner allowing for city-scale comparisons; secondly, they acknowledge cross-scale dynamics important for e.g. living qualities and economic processes where not only the local conditions are important, but also the qualities in proximity. This paper focuses on the comparison of building types in three Swedish cities, using the multi-variable and multi-scalar density definition. A statistical clustering method is used to classify cases according to their measured similarity across the scales. The results show that working with types is a fruitful way to reveal the individual identity of these types, compare cities and highlight some differences in the way the three cities are structured.
Increasing residential segregation in cities gives public spaces a more important role in solidar... more Increasing residential segregation in cities gives public spaces a more important role in solidarity processes, bringing people together, supporting movement, co-presence and co-awareness. Local squares thus have the greatest significance providing an arena for social interplay as people become co-present. Earlier studies showed that high spatial integration plays an important role for the mix of locals and non-locals besides aspects relating to population density and land use. The purpose of this paper is to reach a better understanding whether also more local properties that characterize a square influence co-presence. Further, more squares are added to represent a broader spectrum of neighbourhoods which will help us understand whether network integration is important in all types of neighbourhoods. Thirdly, this study will help to inform whether earlier findings by Legeby in Stockholm, Södertälje and Gothenburg can be confirmed which allows us to generalize these findings. The amount of people co-present in squares and the share of non-local visitors are studied as two indicators (or aspects) of co-presence. The empirical data was collected through observation including snapshots and interviews. The number of people present in the public squares was noted and the interviews were used to measure the share of non-locals. The spatial analysis includes besides integration and betweenness, an analysis of density (both population and building density) and land uses accessible from the squares within various radii. Also, geometric characteristics such as size, shape and enclosure of the squares are included in the study. The result shows different patterns of co-presence in the 12 studied squares, especially if we distinguish squares in the most central area of Gothenburg with squares located at a longer distance from the city centre. Some findings confirm earlier findings and allow us to generalize the findings as other findings seem not to be relevant in all cities. Further, pure geometric properties of squares do not show strong correlations with co-presence. We can thus conclude that the local design intervention of squares cannot promote co-presence very well without the support of urban structure.
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Conference proceedings by Kailun Sun