Spatial syntax analysis of colonial urban morphogenesis: Insights from a Mediterranean case study

KGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Mediterranean city of Oran, located in Algerian coastal territory, experienced extensive morphological modifications through the sustained influence of Spanish and French colonial activities. Its strategic position attracted successive occupations that left visible traces in the urban form. This study analyzed how spatial structures evolved under these colonial regimes and how political and strategic decisions shaped Oran’s urban morphology. It also sought to explain the mechanisms through which these transformations occurred and how they continued to affect the city's organization.METHODS: Historical maps from ۱۷۳۶ and ۱۹۲۷ were used to analyze space syntax, measuring global and local network integration, choice, and intelligibility. The syntactic results were combined with the urban decoding principles developed by Caniggia and Maffei to provide historical context to the morphological shifts. These years were chosen because they represent turning points in Spanish and French urban planning strategies.FINDINGS: The integration value of Plaza Mayor in ۱۷۳۶ was ۰.۶۱, confirming its role as the central hub under Spanish rule. In ۱۹۲۷, the highest integration value shifted to Place d’Armes (۰.۶۶), reflecting the French strategic repositioning of the city’s core. This shift led to urban fragmentation and a reduction in intelligibility in certain areas. Despite modernization efforts, peripheral zones maintained low integration values, confirming persistent spatial segregation.CONCLUSION: The research established how colonial rule directly influenced the spatial layout of the city and demonstrated that spatial syntax is an effective tool for analyzing historical urban development patterns. The results contribute to urban heritage planning by showing how spatial dynamics reflect broader socio-political contexts.

کلیدواژه ها:

Colonial urbanism ، Historical mapping ، Morphological transformation ، Space Syntax ، spatial Integration ، Typological analysis ، Urban morphology