Assessing the Relationship Between Spatial Configuration and Proximity to Basic Services. The Case Studies of Matera and Terni, Italy

Proximity and diversity of basic services are crucial aspects for the sustainability and resilience of urban areas, particularly in the context of climate alterations and the post-pandemic scenario. Yet, the models proposed for the transformation of urbanised areas do not adequately consider the relation between the spatial configuration of urban structures and access to services. To address this gap, this study combines place syntax and space syntax metrics to measure the proximity of services and the configurational properties of the cities of Matera and Terni in Italy. The objective of the study is to investigate the importance of improving the spatial configuration of cities to promote the location of functions and services in marginal and deprived areas. The findings suggest that the spatial configuration properties of permeability and centrality are related to the proximity of services. Moreover, the study reveals that the spatial configuration of urban areas can significantly impact the distribution of and access to services. The study can increase the impact of public policies in promoting sustainable and inclusive urban development by assisting public agencies in identifying critical and in developing targeted strategies for urban regeneration.