International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management
Quarterly Publication

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

https://doi.org/10.22034/IJHCUM.2026.02.02

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 November 2025
International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

N. A. Labdaoui 1
A. M. Esteban Maluenda 2
A. R. Colmenar 2

1 Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain

2 Departamento de Composición Arquitectónica, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain

Abstract
BACKGROUND 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 1736 and 1927 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 1736 was 0.61, confirming its role as the central hub under Spanish rule. In 1927, the highest integration value shifted to Place d’Armes (0.66), 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.

Graphical Abstract

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

Keywords

Colonial urbanism
Historical mapping
Morphological transformation
Space syntax
Spatial integration
Typological analysis
Urban morphology
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  • Receive Date 10 May 2025
  • Revise Date 09 August 2025
  • Accept Date 11 November 2025

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