Kurtulus, I; Griffiths, S; (2017) The effect of university campuses on the spatial cultures of two mid-sized towns: A comparative study of Nottingham, UK and Eskisehir, Turkey. In: Proceedings of the 11th Space Syntax Symposium. (pp. 76.1-76.19). Instituto Superior Tecnico, Departamentode Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Georrecursos, Portugal: Lisbon, Portugal.

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Abstract

This study focuses on the effects that university campuses and the presence of students has had on the growth and economy of two mid-sized cities. It examines the extent to which the existence of university campuses affects their local economies, and attempts to define the contribution of students to urban sustainability. Students are discussed in the context of university cities as examples of 'creative cities', so attractive to urban decision-makers. The university itself is presented as a 'creative industry', an indicator for socio-economically sustainable cities. The research then describes how universities manifest their roles in the public realm in a spatial way. To do so, two case studies are presented, Nottingham (UK) and Eskisehir (Turkey), which are similar in terms of demography and the location of their campuses. The study investigates both the relationship of campus locations with their surrounding areas, and the relationships that students have with their cities and local populations, using historical and contemporary maps, land use surveys, on site observations and questionnaire results about user activities. The research examines the historical development of the university areas in the case-study cities in terms of their spatial structure and social morphology. The campus areas are divided into three categories according to their location in the city: the 'city centre', 'edge of the city' and 'outside of the city'. The locations of student accommodation are also mapped. The main analysis explores the emergent relationships of campuses and student areas to urban centres, using space syntax measures of network accessibility and area users routes. The aim of the study is to better grasp the relationship between campus and city by considering the presence and the distribution of university buildings and students in urban space in historical perspective. It highlights a better understanding of how student populations affect the socio-economic development of cities, can contribute to a better comprehension of the 'creative city' and the 'sustainable city'.

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