Are American cities different

Abstract

The paper presents the findings of a comparative study of the metric and syntactic characteristics in 12 American and European urban grids using space syntax. This is done in order to more objectively quantify how the spatial structure of American and European cities might be similar or different. It is suggested that American urban grids are structured and differentiated rather than purely geometrical objects. However, as urban systems they are models of formal maintenance, in that as they increase in size they tend to maintain their formal composition. This in contrast to European urban grids which can be seen as models of spatial maintenance in that as they increase in size they tend to maintain their prevailing spatial pattern. It is argued that this arises primarily through the initial conditions of geometry and deformity in the urban grid which serves to intensify the initial differences between American and European urban grids. However, as they increase in size these differences in spatial structure become less pronounced. The implications of this in researching American cities are discussed.