Kritisk analys av centrala begrepp i boken Städernas stenar

Abstract

Lars Marcuss book Städernas stenar (The stones of cities) presents basic concepts and the latest directions in the space syntax research area. Marcuss presentation is based on the necessity of understanding that urban planning as an area of knowledge is comprised of the material reality of both the city and the lived city, human beings, and their use of the city as a tool, of being comprehended as an enabler.
 
The main message of the book is that the built environment and the city form a street network that steers human movement patterns and that this impact can be analysed and quantified using methods developed within space syntax. Marcuss concept is said to show that the intensity of road use in the street network results from the spatial structure of the network. But this analysis shows that the concepts of axial line and centrality are based on implicit assumptions about human choices with respect to route.

In the concluding part of the book, Marcus criticizes architects for a lack of insight into the importance of urban form to urban life, and for focussing on the artistic design of the street space. But Marcus wrongfully blames the early 20th century architects for the origin of this and disregards the devastating consequences of later city zoning and traffic separation for urban cohesion and for architectures ability to contribute to urban life.