It’s been a busy summer at Space Syntax and we thought you might be interested in some of the highlights. Below are 10 of our favourites…
You’ll see we’ve been working on projects around the world, speaking at events, holding training workshops, making a film, running a photo competition and, more than anything, enjoying London 2012.
We hope you’ve had a good summer too and we look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Managing Director
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London 2012 – creating the iconic map of London
The Games started on a high for Space Syntax with our Spatial Accessibility Model of London used to make the the stage for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. The giant image was uncovered by actors as part of the ceremony’s description of Britain’s evolution from rural landscape to urban industry.
Daily Mail
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We were delighted to be part of two winning teams in the prestigious competition to redesign the National Mall at the heart of Washington. At Union Square we have worked withGustafson Guthrie Nichol and Davis Brody Bond to provide better pedestrian access while improving security. Nearby, at the foot of the Washington Monument we have worked withOLIN & Weiss Manfredi to reorient the Sylvan Theater back towards the Monument and improve connections to the Jefferson Memorial.
Client, Trust for the National Mall
Project Director, Anna Rose
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Arlington VA – Rosslyn
Across the Potomac from the National Mall, we are currently working with Shalom Baranes Associates and Gustafson Guthrie Nichol on the public realm strategy for a major site in the Rosslyn Area of Arlington. 2.5 miles in length, the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is one of the USA’s most prominent examples of Transit Oriented Development.
Client, Monday Properties
Project Director, Anna Rose
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Planning permission was granted last month for the redesign of Broadgate Arena, the iconic public space at the heart of the Broadgate development in the City of London. Space Syntax worked closely with Arup Associates in the design, presentation and negotiation of the project. We tested and optimised the designs, demonstrating how they would handle anticipated flows in a safe and commercially beneficial way.
Client, British Land
Project Director, Max Martinez
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Changchun – City Planning Strategy
In the last year we have been working with Beijing-based architects HYHW on projects in Changchun, Chengdu and Shanghai. In Changchun, we evaluated the spatial planning strategy for the city, undertaking a spatial analysis of the city to test whether the plan would resolve current transport problems, create sustainable local centres, regenerate historic areas and activate the Yitong River. A set of recommendations were made, which were included in a revised spatial strategy.
Project Director, Ed Parham
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London – Victoria & Albert Museum
Space Syntax supported the V&A and their design team, Amanda Levete Architects, during planning negotiations with the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea concerning a new entrance on Exhibition Road. We provided a Visitor Circulation and Design Impact assessment, identifying the likely impact of the proposals on visitor flows. Planning permission was granted in July 2012.
Client, Victoria & Albert Museum
Project Director, Max Martinez
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PLOY – Public Life in the Olympic Year
PLOY was launched as the London Festival of Architecture‘s official photo competition project. Co-curated with our friends at the creative agency Hype!, the project has captured ways in which people respond to their urban context. In doing so we have explored the use of technology as a means to communicate with others and, ultimately, celebrated new ways of creativity and participation. The outcome has been a wonderful record of public life in London.
Project Director, Anna Rose
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Learning Cities
The European Learning Cities Platform – initiated by The Academy of Urbanism, INTA and Urban-ImPulse – provides a knowledge network for cities. The Platform combines the benefits of face-to-face meetings and geospatial analysis. People are brought together to share experiences and analyses of large-scale inner-city urban transformation. Space Syntax has contributed to the Platform by developing a comparative analysis of spatial accessibility in Bordeaux, Utrecht and Hamburg and by using this analysis to inform face-to-face discussions.
Project Director, Anna Rose
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A key part of our mission is the dissemination into practice of Space Syntax principles, methods and technologies. To this end we offer a range of training programmes tailored to user needs.
We recently held a three-day workshop for 7 members of staff at the Swedish engineering company SWECO. Based around a live project in Stockholm, the event provided hands-on training as well as design advice that could be immediately acted on.
For further information about the Space Syntax Academy, please contact Maia Lemlij.
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Speaking, teaching, writing, filming…
Tim Stonor will be speaking at:
Smart City Expo World Congress 13-15th November, Barcelona
Parametric thinking & making in architecture & urbanism 24-25th November, Taiwan
Dr Kayvan Karimi is guest editing a special issue of Urban Design International on “Evidence-informed & analytical methods in urban design” to be published in October 2012.
Max Martinez will be teaching a module on Space Syntax and evidence-informed design as part of the newly created Digital Innovation in Architecture and Urbanism master’s degree / Máster en Innovación Digital en Arquitectura y Urbanismo at Alicante University, Spain.
Tim Stonor and Anna Rose feature in a short film about Space Syntax. With contributions from clients and collaborators, the film describes our science-based approach to the planning and design of places.
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For further information on Space Syntax please contact us by phone, email and through our website. Better still, come and see us if you can.
+44 20 7400 1320
london@spacesyntax.com
