I - Annual Congresses

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Open Access
18th Congress of the AESOP, Grenoble, France, 2004 ‘Metropolitan Planning and Environmental Issues’
(Routledge : Taylor and Francis Group, 2005) Silva, Elisabete A.
Grenoble-France was this year’s venue for the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) 18th congress entitled ‘Metropolitan Planning and Environmental Issues’. A successful congress ensued (it contained 390 authors and 195 papers) taking place in a sustainable and charming city at the University Pierre Mende`s France, Grenoble and at the Institute of Urbanism in Grenoble. The local organizing committee Jan Tucny, Alain Motte, Gilles Novarina, Marc Bonneville, Yves Chalas, Jack Fontanel, and Bernard Pouyet; as well as the conference coordinator, the very promising young academic Ste´phane Sadoux, are to be congratulated for this year’s AESOP congress. The congress opening ceremony began with the welcome address by professors: Prof. Claude Courlet (President University Pierre Mende`s France), and Prof. Alessandro Balducci (President Association of European Planning Schools) Politecnico di Milano The keynote were addressed by: Prof. Gabriel Dupuy, University Paris Sorbonne with a presentation entitled ‘Cities and Planning in an era of Information Technologies and Communication’; Prof. Bernardo Secchi, Unversity of Venice presenting ‘The contemporary European city and its project’; Prof. Sir Peter Hall, University College of London with a presentation entitled ‘Policentropolis: in search of the European Holy Grail’; and Jean-Paul Blais, PUCA, Ministe`re de l’Equipment with a speech on ‘Current research issues in strategic and metropolitan planning: a French perspective’.
Open Access
24th AESOP Annual Conference 2010- General Report
(AESOP, 2010) Ache, Peter; Ilmonen, Mervi
The chosen theme was Space is luxury. The theme was chosen for several reasons. In 2010, the world is clearly one that can be called ‘urban’. In relative terms, more than half of the world’s population dwells in urban settings – about one billion under ‘slum conditions’. Having quality space available equals commanding a ‘luxury’! Planning and urban design are key factors in shaping and managing space and generate the wished for quality spaces. The concept of space and concomitantly that of spatial quality includes different meanings and dimensions. Space is physical, including architecture and urban form. Space is also socially constructed through various forms of human interventions. Space is contested and a reason for serious conflicts. Space is presented and space represents. For planning, the management of the competing uses for space requires complex interventions. The making of better places that are valued and have identity is an enduring ambition of planning. And, returning to the start of this brief reflection, the major challenge of spatial planning is to find solutions for a more sustainable urban millennium. Space is expensive and exhaustive, a luxury we cannot afford any longer, if it means excessive use of space in terms of energy inefficiency and traffic pollution. The Centre for Urban and Regional Studies at Aalto University welcomed 700 planning scholars and professionals from all over the world to Finland to discuss the manifold issues of space is luxury and to explore the multitude of related planning issues.
Open Access
25 years after transformation: changes in spatial distribution of production activities in the case study of Wroclaw, Poland
(AESOP, 2015) Barski, Jan; Barski, Jacek
In the post-industrial, free-market economy, the ability of spatial planning to truly influence the location choices of business owners is limited, while the vast majority of means of production are in non-public hands. On top of that, coordinating spatial policies and decisions between administrative entities is a major challenge in numerous places in Europe. This paper offers a convenient case study of a medium-sized European city (Wroclaw, Poland) and an analysis of the spatial management complication which has observable consequences for the spatial structure and economic functioning of the city. The paper examines the situation through the lens of production and manufacturing activities (with a cautious approach to the term industry). The case is analysed in two inseparable ways: spatial and economic; parallel to that, the discussion is developed on the issue of the interconnection of policymaking in the metropolitan area (the city vs its surrounding rural communes). the changes in employment in subsequent sectors of the metropolitan area in the 25 years since the political transformation of Poland while keeping an eye on the physical, spatial changes of the aforementioned metropolitan area. The secondary output of the paper is outlining the suburbanisation processes of large Polish cities, however as seen not from the most frequently presented perspectives (such as housing or transportation), but from a more economy- and spatial responsibility-focused one.
Open Access
A case for reconsidering the inclusive urban design debate
(AESOP, 2015) Ilie, Elisabeta G.
Mainstream theory and practice of inclusive urban design focus predominantly on the free access and use of the built environment. This becomes problematic when set against the homonymous theory which argues for places for all, under what appears to be a holistic, yet vague definition of ‘inclusivity’. Moreover, a design focus on physical accessibility leaves unaddressed questions on users who are to benefit from inclusive design practices, to what extent and how that is to be achieved. The present paper argues that in order to legitimately discuss issues of inclusivity in an urban design context, the discipline needs to consider not only urban design process and outcome, but also mechanisms behind exclusion/ inclusion processes and how these are embedded in everyday urban practices, artefacts and spaces. This can only be attained by re-considering and re-phrasing the very concept of inclusive urban design. Building on a critique of the purpose and the function of the discipline, the paper challenges in-place notions of inclusive urban design and explores its limitations against taken-for-granted notions of everyday urban reality. This is done by drawing on sociological theories of socio-cultural production of space/place and of the body in space, with the aim to outline a more comprehensive and, potentially, more effective understanding of inclusive urban design.
Open Access
A closer look into how land-use, social networks and ict influence location choice of social activities
(AESOP, 2017) Baburajan, Vishnu; de Abreu e Silva, João António
Technology now enables individuals to travel more flexibly, thanks to ICT and the numerous social networks. The choice of location for social activities has become very flexible, sometimes allowing changes to a previous decision on the move. In addition to this, the characteristics of the residential and university location also play a vital role in the choice of location for social activities. It would be quite exciting to uncover the behavioral patterns associated with these decisions. Hence, this study pursues the following objectives: 1. to analyze the influence of ICT, social networks and land-use characteristics of the residence and university in choice of location for social travel. 2. To analyze the similarities and dissimilarities in the choice of activities pursued during weekdays and weekends. Students from the two different campuses of Instituto Superior Técnico were presented with an online questionnaire, intended to collect information about the use of ICT and social networks, in addition to the travel characteristics and socio-demographics. Emphasis was made in capturing the characteristics of social networks and ICT usage. Information on the land-use characteristics was later obtained from secondary sources. Factor analysis was initially carried out to extract factors related to use of ICT and social networks, which were to be later used in the model for choice of location. The alternatives considered for location choice include: location within 800 m from the residence, location within 800 m from the university, locations away from home and university and evenly spread locations. The analysis was performed separately for travel during weekdays and weekends, to understand the differences and similarities in behavior during these different time periods. A multinomial logit model was estimated to model this choice. This adds to the literature, the understanding of influence of use of ICT, social networks and land-use characteristics, in the context of social travel.
Open Access
A collaborative learning approach to promote positive interdependence in a “Planning Sustainable Cities” course
(AESOP, 2019) Martinez, Javier
Following the scholarship of teaching and learning, this study is contextualized in a “Planning Sustainable Cities” course. It presents a collaborative learning approach to promote positive interdependence. Under certain conditions, collaborative learning approaches can promote among students each other’s efforts to learn, resulting in positive interdependence (cooperation). However, cooperation is not always facilitated, and it might be challenged when students have diverse backgrounds. This study incorporated elements of mixed-methods and design-based research approaches. Pre and post-intervention surveys were conducted with 23 international students as well as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions on the type and level of collaboration, and student’s view of cooperative learning. Based on the results of the descriptive phase and the literature, we addressed two key issues during the design phase: improving group dynamics and facilitating collaboration in the Learning Management System (LMS). No outside enemy interdependence was observed (negative interdependence with another group). Means interdependence is the most predominant characteristic of positive interdependence present in group work and positively perceived by the students. In the collaborative learning approach that was designed, both a group dynamics workshop (analogue/in class) and group pages in the LMS seem to help in improving means interdependence.
Open Access
A Comparative Analysis Analysis of Urban Temperature (Air/Surface) and Heat Island Intensity Using S·Dot and Landsat8 in Seoul of South Korea
(AESOP, 2022) Lee, Jae-Jun; Kim, Dae-Hye; Woong-Kyoo, Bae
More than half of the world's population lives in cities, and according to the United Nations, about 70% of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050, given the current trajectory of urban growth. (United Nations, 2010) The growth of these cities causes climate change and aggravates abnormal weather phenomena such as heatwaves. This heatwave phenomenon causes the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, which is one of the phenomena that occurs with the progress of urbanization, which refers to a phenomenon in which the air and surface temperature in the downtown area are higher than in the surrounding areas. (JA Voogt TR Oke, 2003) The UHI phenomenon worsens the urban environment, such as heatwaves and tropical nights, and threatens the life and health of urban residents. As a result, about 50% of the population is concentrated in the metropolitan area, which is about 10% of the national land area, and various urban problems such as an imbalance in national land development and the UHI phenomenon are occurring mainly in the metropolitan area. As a result, the average outdoor temperature was 13.5℃ in the 2019s, 1.1℃ higher than in the 1960s, and it is a continuous increase. It affects the climate change and the natural environment of downtown areas, impairs the quality of the urban environment, and threatens the health of urban residents. If the city's temperature continues to rise and climate change and destruction of the natural environment intensify, the quality of the urban environment may be compromised, which will endanger the health and life of city residents. Accordingly, from 2020, through the Smart Seoul Urban Data Sensor (S·DoT) construction project, the city of Seoul is building an industrial ecosystem using policies and city data to solve urban problems and improve citizens’ lives. Therefore, this study aims to present the possibility of using urban data sensors (S·DoT) by examining the temperature of Seoul and the surface temperature data of LANDSAT8, calculating and comparing the thermal island intensity of the air temperature and the surface temperature.
Open Access
A Comparative Analysis of Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction in South Korea
(AESOP, 2019) Yoon, Dong Keun; Cho, Seong Yun; Choi, Yeon Woo; Jang, Jung Woo
As abnormal weather phenomena due to climate change globally continues, the frequency of natural disasters and human and economic losses from floods, typhoon, heatwaves and heavy snow are constantly increasing in South Korea. For the last ten years (2008~2017), the total disaster damage cost was expected to be about $3 billion in South Korea. In response, South Korea established climate change adaptation plans based on the Low Carbon and Green Growth Act enacted in 2010. Local governments adopted detailed implementation strategies to mitigate and adapt climate change based on water management, energy, health and natural disaster management since 2011. This study compared 218 local climate change adaptation plans regarding natural disaster reduction strategies. Using content analysis, this study evaluated natural disaster reduction strategies based on natural disaster types and the stage of disaster management. Moreover, this study examined the regional differences in priorities of natural disaster risk reduction strategies to implement through spatial analysis. The result of the analysis shows that the local climate change adaptation plans are mainly focused on the improvement and reinforcement of physical structures to prevent damage from typhoon and heavy rain in South Korea. This study is expected to provide keys and knowledge for basic local governments to establish the next climate change adaptation implementation plan.
Open Access
A comparative product analysis of online and face-to-face basic design education
(AESOP, 2023) Eren, Şirin Gülcen; Uluç Keçik, Aynur; Ala, Ebru
The first year of education in the city and regional planning discipline focuses on one on one and face to face basic design education, primarily conducted through planning studios I II. Assignments are given to freshmen to enhance their urban planning and design knowledge, perspectives, design thinking, creative thinking, and design judgments. The COVID 19 Pandemic and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes occurred successively, resulting in a significant shift towards online university education. Course instructors and administrations had to amend education methodologies, materials, and course contents accordingly. The aims and objectives of design courses were fulfilled through various digitalized learning systems and programs. However, the quality of the design products declined during this period. Therefore, this study aims to compare the basic design outputs of students in the online courses of 2020 2021 and the face-to-face courses of 2022 2023 fall term planning studios at Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey. The purpose is to determine the effectiveness of different education methodologies in basic design education and assess the outcomes in terms of quality and performance. Assignments from both online and face to face courses will be compared to evaluate the impacts of online education on students' learning and creativity. This research is exploratory in nature and employs a comparative analysis of two fall term final assignments (The Shell Project), assessing their level of meeting 16 design requirements. The evaluation of the study was conducted based on the grades of the submission, final grades, and course success grades and averages. The research presented shows an increase in the design quality of assignments in face-to-face education. This improvement is attributed to enhancements in meeting course requirements, the interactive nature of the courses, and changes in implementation processes. Additionally, there was a higher level of interaction with students, and their processes. Additionally, there was a higher level of interaction with students, and their efforts to learn and actively participate in the course were accelerated. The outcomes of efforts to learn and actively participate in the course were accelerated. The outcomes of this research are expected to provide valuable insights for lecturers and academic staff this research are expected to provide valuable insights for lecturers and academic staff involved in first involved in first--year planning studios. It will assist them in the development of course year planning studios. It will assist them in the development of course curricula, methodologies, and the preparation and delivery of design education for curricula, methodologies, and the preparation and delivery of design education for teaching the visual language teaching the visual language. Keywords: City planning, Basic Design education, Online education, Face-City planning, Basic Design education, Online education, Face-to-face education, Covid education, Covid-19.
Open Access
A comparative study of the European and Japanese definitions of shrinking cities as applied to Japan
(AESOP, 2015) Uemura, Tetsuji
Population decline and industrial decline are obvious phenomena not only in Europe but also in Japan. Issues related to population and industrial decline have been actively discussed, and academic knowledge and analysis based on international comparative studies are expected to develop countermeasures to the most critical situations. The definition of shrinking city that is applied, however, is not necessarily the same, and such a fundamental element of the discussion has not been fully examined so far. This study, therefore, aims at comparing the different definitions of “shrinking cities” used in Japan and Europe and developing the best way to provide a reliable basis for future discussion on shrinking cities’ topics. The results of this comparative study suggest that COST Action’s definition allows an analysis of Japanese cities to include the so-called “depopulated area issue” because the Japanese population in municipalities is rather bigger than the population in European municipalities, and Japanese cities may have lower figures for population density distribution and artificial land use within their territory. In conclusion, Japanese sampled cities based on the Japanese definition are not necessarily suitable for the basis of a comparison study. This is because some Japanese “cities” do not satisfy objective criteria such as population size because the “city” has never been downgraded having once been upgraded to “city”. Rather, the European definition of “city” better reflects the elements of the city, so that Japan should also follow the European definition of “city” for future discussions on shrinking cities.
Open Access
A Comparative Study on Zoning Guidelines for Different Planning Types in China
(AESOP, 2024) Qian, Chenli; Huang, Yi; Wu, Xiao
Zoning guidelines are technical methods commonly employed in various types of urban planning, including comprehensive urban design, landscape planning, regulatory detailed planning, and architectural features and styles planning. These guidelines aim to protect and define urban character, controlling spatial forms in specific districts. Often, when different zoning types are compiled without clear distinctions, redundancy and contradictions can arise, leading to inefficient management. This article, in conjunction with relevant zoning guideline examples, distinguishes between the zoning guidelines corresponding to the four types of planning by comparing their coverage, control objectives, content, and methods. It defines the roles, functions, and interrelationships of these guidelines at different scales. This approach aims to systematically control urban landscapes through a layered and cumulative process, effectively addressing different levels. Keywords: Zoning guidelines, comprehensive urban design, landscape planning, regulatory detailed planning, architectural features and styles planning
Open Access
A contrastive study on strategic value of public space plan in urban development from the perspective of space production
(AESOP, 2017) Geng, Jia; Chen, Bowen; Wang, Meijie
Public space is one of the most important elements to realize the concept of resilient city. Not only could it provide emergency shelters when disasters, it also could provide a flexible and sustainable development for industries as a macroscopic spatial strategy. The value of public space has been rising gradually with calls for human-centered environment, after its concession for economic development in decades. Because it could beautify environment and promote social communication. What’s more, it has a tendency from its own ecological, social and aesthetic value to strategic one as a catalyst in urban development. Urban catalyst, means that a particular element has a positive influence on the external or internal conditions of the existing ones and causes a “chain reaction”, promoting continuous urban development as arrangement (Atton W.& Logan D., 1994). There is no doubts that public space has a great potential to be a catalyst in urban development.
Open Access
A Critical evaluation of the latest regional planning efforts in Turkey
(AESOP, 2016) Dedekorkut-Howes, Aysin; Kaya, Nursen; Howes, Michael
There are a series of problems and issues planners face that are best dealt with at a regional scale such as air quality, water quality, habitat protection, transportation planning, urban sprawl (land use and growth management), economic development and social equity (Wheeler, 2000). However, regional planning is easier said than done. Planning usually occurs within administrative boundaries but economic development and environmental systems transcend these. Most of the time political boundaries do not reflect an economically, ecologically and socially functional region (Calthorpe and Fulton, 2001). When the region is ill-defined planning may not achieve its goals. Planning powers and authority are usually fragmented among competing local governments and agencies with different missions. The new millennium saw the first systematic regional planning efforts in Turkey to guide development. While there have been regional plans since 1960s these have been ad hoc, on a needs basis. The purpose of the earlier plans was to bring some order into the development taking place outside municipal boundaries due to the rapid population growth. However, these plans were not well defined by law at the time resulting in unceasing arguments over the function, content, scale, quality, legal basis of the plans as well as the responsibility and authority to make them (Tekinbaş, 2001).
Open Access
A democratizing planning governance in Hong Kong - for whose interest?
(AESOP, 2016) Chiu, Rebecca L.H.
With a populace itchy to establish full democracy and a political system not yet allowing political parties to form government, planning issues in Hong Kong have been politicized beyond the aim of prompt provision of land for economic activities, affordable housing and a livable environment. Since 2011, increasing planning and land development controversies arose partly because of the intensifying tension in the political system and partly because of the government’s identification of severe land supply shortage as the fundamental problem causing severe housing affordability problems, thus making relentless effort to search and develop new land for housing development. A quick survey of the mass media reports between 1911 and 2014 would find that nineteen housing concern groups were formed opposing to government’s proposed land use rezoning for housing development or government’s public housing projects. These oppositions eventually led to the revision or review of nine development projects. The grounds of opposition were inadequate transport, infrastructure or community facilities. These are legitimate concerns, but they also led to a total reducing of 15,340 housing units. Apparently there are trade-offs in the democratizing planning system: a more participatory planning process and a more empowered civil society versus slower land and housing development processes and therefore higher housing prices; and better livability versus slower pace to improve the housing quality of the disadvantaged groups.
Open Access
A European perspective of Inter-Municipal cooperation: The institutionalisation of the metropolis (2005 - 2015)
(AESOP, 2016) Dornelles Hosannah, Luciana
In today’s inter-connected world, governments rarely possess the full capability to solve their individual policy areas (Nelles, 2010), municipal borders are often ‘fictitious’ within larger metropolitan territories and all communities are confronted with the increasing scale and complexity of social processes, which result in increasing number of externalities to local policies. The necessity to think beyond municipal boundaries when dealing with key challenges and opportunities has led several European governments to consider exploring inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) as possible institutional solutions. In European context, national governments and the European Union have increased their focus on IMC for regional and metropolitan governance in the past ten years. This is illustrated by several recent institutional reports on the subject (Ahrend, Gamper, & Schumann, 2014; EUROCITIES, 2011; Göddecke-Stellmann et al., 2011; Griesel & van de Waart, 2011; Meijers, Hoogerbrugge, & Hollander, 2012; Tasan-Kok & Vranken, 2011). Academic literature has not, however, kept up with this policy shift, having far fewer academic Europe-wide comparative studies produced in the same period of time (Feiock, 2007; Hulst & Van Montfort, 2007; Otgaar, 2008). This gap between institutional interest and academic productions is important to acknowledge, as it essentially signifies a contemporary political trend in European metropolitan governance that is undergoing fewer academic methodical analysis than would be expected.
Open Access
A Framework for Analysing Physical Form Outcomes of Value Capture Paths of Regeneration Projects in Residential Historic Areas
(AESOP, 2024) Zhiyu, Pang
This study develops a framework to analyse the impact of value capture paths on physical form outcomes in residential historic area regeneration projects. The framework, using four independent variables: adjusting property rights, changing use, increasing intensity, and improving quality, and five dependent variables: plot form, building type, number of building floors, building density, and setback distance, is applied to the XIAOXIHU historic area in Nanjing, China. The findings reveal that the same planning control conditions can yield different spatial form outcomes, largely explained by value capture paths. The framework is informative for both planning and policy design. Keywords: Value Capture, Physical Form, Residential Historic Area, Regeneration Project residential historic areas
Open Access
A GIS-based Method for Prioritising Brownfields Transformation into Multifunctional Urban Green Infrastructure: The Case of Rouen Metropolis
(AESOP, 2024) Pirouzi, Sadaf; Fabri, Fabiana; Sauvée, Loïc
The spatial expansion of cities results in the loss of natural resources. It is therefore crucial to maintain ecological performance by balancing the land used for human purposes with efforts to restore or protect natural habitats. Here, we investigate how to transform brownfields into multifunctional urban green infrastructure. We use a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation model to prioritise the brownfields in Rouen metropolis. We show that (1) the integration of site suitability and urban ecological demand is required, (2) Coupling Coordination Degree serves as an appropriate model for determining the interaction and coordination of site suitability and urban ecological demand. Keywords Brownfield, Urban Green Infrastructure, Site Suitability Analysis, Multifunctionality, Spatial Planning
Open Access
A heuristic framework for exploring uncertainties in transport planning
(AESOP, 2017) Navarro-Ligero, Miguel L.; Soria-Lara, Julio A.; Valenzuela-Montes, Luis Miguel
In recent decades, the effectiveness of positivistic approaches in transport planning has been growly contested by academics and practitioners (Innes and Booher, 2010). The idea of planning for a single model of reality is becoming obsolete when considering the fast and radical changes that society is experiencing at present and in the near future (e.g. ICT advances, environmental concerns, social inequalities, changes in mobility behaviour, etc.) (Batty et al., 2012; Lyons and Davidson, 2016; Marsden et al., 2014). The discussed crisis of the rational-planning model has generated a great deal of interest in those rationalities pursuing “alternative realities” of planning, rooted in critical realism, constructivism and pragmatism (Khisty and Arslan, 2005). However, practitioners and policy-makers are still comfortable with the idea of planning as “enlightening the future”, also reinforced by traditional planning cultures, legal frameworks, and political institutions (Lyons and Davidson, 2016). Placed in a crossroad of approaches, motivations and perspectives, the issue of unveiling uncertainty has been gaining relevance among transport-planning researchers (Martens and van Weelden, 2014). Attempts at understanding uncertainty have mostly been made from a decision-making perspective, especially from the transport-modelling field (van der Pas et al., 2010; Walker et al., 2003). However, those approaches face what is known as the “uncertainty paradox”: the recognition of higher levels of uncertainty goes hand in hand with the expectations of positivistic science and knowledge to tackle them (van Asselt and Vos, 2006). Moreover, despite multiple dimensions of uncertainty having been explored in literature (Brown, 2004), they seldom encompass the plurality of perspectives (and also languages) involved in transport planning. At this point, previous systematization and conceptualization efforts need to converge into common overarching frames, which are flexible enough to embrace this plurality of uncertainty dimensions.
Open Access
A historical perspective on National Spirit and the Shape of Public Space：the experience from the evolution of the Central Park in Chongqing, China (1928-2013)
(AESOP, 2016) Li, Shanshan
From the the theory of the production of the space which is created by Heri Lefevbvre, there is a reconciliation between mental space which is the space of the philosopher and the real space which is the physical and social spheres. Basic on the understanding above the modern public space is not a fixed place but an open and extended system which is continuously constructed by the national sprit, local culture and economic during the dynamic evolution. What is also means, the public spaces are concentrated reflect to the local experiences. The evolution of China’s modern public spaces has a unique process which is closely related to the transformation of the national spirit since modern times. Specifically, the urban park of China did not come out from the functional requirement of modern city but a national landscape in a local context. And the following process of the park also affected by the specific idea of nations. As a physical space which is the representation of local culture and public sphere, the historical perspective on the public park of China can give a general picture of the evolution process of modern China’s public spaces since the 20th century.
Open Access
A knowledge-driven approach to urban transformations: densification strategy of the central parts of Bergen, Norway
(AESOP, 2019) Roald, Hans Jacob; Elric de Koning, Remco
The municipality of Bergen has launched a radical strategy for densification. A total of 50 percent of the need for new housing should be covered within Bergen's central parts. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and it is known for its intimate relations between a beautiful west coast landscape and, from a Norwegian perspective, a dense urban structure. Much is at stake when introducing a radical program for densification. A report has been prepared that records the area's character and identifies and analyses potential transformation areas. With assistance from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and consulting firm Asplan Viak, GIS is used as a tool for obtaining operational information and analysis models. The work has been financed by the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation. Information is provided about what characterises and distinguishes Bergen's central parts. A new analytic GIS-based tool is developed for measuring the spatial attributes that constitute an area's attractiveness. This tool combines the Space-Syntax and Spacescape methods. Eleven major transformation areas are identified and issues such as ownership, possible obstacles to implementation and overall potential for development are analysed. A step-bystep implementation is proposed and recommendations are made which address critical obstacles.