How cities connect people across space & time
The subject of “connectivity” is much mentioned in urban planning practice, not least by the Space Syntax community.
But what do we mean by connectivity?
1. Urban practice should connect across different scales of activity:
Urban Planning (macro scale)
Urban Design (meso scale)
Building Design (micro scale)
ie 3 scales of space.
2. Urban practice should also connect across different phases of activity:
Design (before construction)
Construction (during construction)
Operations (after construction)
ie 3 phases of time.
This gives urban practice a clear space/time organisational framework.
3. This framework can then be used to discuss the subject of connectivity according to several key dimensions:
Physical connections – connecting buildings, streets and spaces.
Human connections – connecting people with each other.
Environmental connections – connecting human interventions to the natural environment: climate, topography.
Digital connections – using data to support physical connections and enhance human connections.
Professional connections – connecting across practice boundaries.
Connectivity is key. But how we connect is complex and multi-dimensional.
The power of the network 