Spatial characterisation of blighted urban areas using space syntax analysis: the case of historic city centre of Kolkata, India

Historic city centres have evolved through years of rigorous transformation, which is often visible in the form of derelict built environment. In this age of rapid urbanisation, addressing urban blight has become a pressing concern for urban practitioners. The lack of place-based knowledge about the socio-spatial attributes of blighted areas has triggered the proliferation of urban blight in the core city areas, threatening the structural integrity and usability of critical historic structures. This research thus aims to identify the inherent spatial characteristics of blighted areas in historic city centres and highlight the resulting socio-behavioural outcomes of their spatial configuration. By taking the case of historic city centre of Kolkata, a city in the Global South, the space syntax technique has been used to interpret the topological structure of the study areas and their socio-spatial properties. The comparative syntactic mapping and axial graph analysis revealed that the blighted areas have segregated spatial systems with limited legibility and permeability, leading to low urban vitality. The in-depth analysis of the spatial characteristics, backed by literature reviews, reconnaissance surveys, census data, and syntax maps, has resulted in a set of spatial features that elucidate how spatial conditions mediate socio-behavioural outcomes, perpetuating the cycle of blight. Based on the research findings, targeted interventions have been proposed for traffic management, place-based enhancements, and crime prevention through environmental design. A comprehensive understanding of the socio-spatial attributes of blighted historic areas will aid urban practitioners in devising pragmatic solutions for reintegrating these areas into the urban fabric.