We are delighted to invite you to the upcoming AESOP Lecture Series event (https://aesop-planning.eu/resources/news-archive/aesop/three-new-aesop-lecture-series-approved-for-2025), which explores the application of space syntax as a powerful analytical tool to advance social equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments.
Lecture Title: Understanding Space Syntax and Its Role in Urban Equity
Workshop Title: Applying Space Syntax for Sustainable and Inclusive Cities
Speaker: Professor Dr. Scient. Akkelies van Nes, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Venue: Faculty of Economics and Sociology, conveniently located in the centre of Lodz, less than 1 km from the main train and coach station.
Date: 15 September 2025
Please register for the event through our page:
Abstract:
Should urban space be designed to prioritise traffic flow, or should it focus on fostering human interaction, accessibility, and social life? Many urban areas, particularly those shaped by road engineering paradigms, have historically favoured motorised mobility—often at the cost of walkability and inclusion. In this 1.5-hour lecture, Professor Dr. Scient. Akkelies van Nes will introduce space syntax as a method to critically assess these dominant planning models. Drawing on case studies from both the Global North and Global South, the session will highlight how spatial configurations influence movement patterns, social interactions, and economic life—providing insights for addressing urban inequalities and guiding inclusive planning interventions.
Should urban space be designed to prioritise traffic flow, or should it focus on fostering human interaction, accessibility, and social life? Many urban areas, particularly those shaped by road engineering paradigms, have historically favoured motorised mobility—often at the cost of walkability and inclusion. In this 1.5-hour lecture, Professor Dr. Scient. Akkelies van Nes will introduce space syntax as a method to critically assess these dominant planning models. Drawing on case studies from both the Global North and Global South, the session will highlight how spatial configurations influence movement patterns, social interactions, and economic life—providing insights for addressing urban inequalities and guiding inclusive planning interventions.
The lecture will be followed by a hands-on workshop where participants will learn to apply space syntax techniques—such as axial and segment analysis, visibility graph analysis, and integration measures—to real-world urban scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on assessing spatial equity and accessibility, in line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Biography: Professor Dr. Akkelies van Nes is a leading scholar in space syntax, currently working at the Department of Civil Engineering at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Bergen. She has made significant contributions to the field by developing methodologies that integrate space syntax with GIS-based analyses, enhancing the study of urban morphology, crime patterns, and spatial accessibility. Her research has provided new insights into how spatial configurations shape socioeconomic interactions, urban vitality, and human behaviour in the built environment. She is the co-author of Introduction to Space Syntax in Urban Studies (2021). She has published extensively on spatial networks, urban development, and the relationship between spatial structure and social processes. In addition to her scholarly work, she has actively contributed to the space syntax community by organizing international symposia, including serving as chairwoman for both the 5th International Space Syntax Symposium at TU Delft in 2005 and the 13th International Space Syntax Symposium in Bergen in 2022. As one of the foremost experts in space syntax globally, she has delivered keynote lectures and led workshops across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
We encourage participation from researchers, planners, architects, geographers, and policymakers interested in data-driven urban design. Prior to the workshop, attendees will be asked to install the free software Depthmapx and explore its interface.
We look forward to your participation in this enriching exchange of theory, method, and practice.
