Urban Form, Accessibility, and Cultural Change: Insights from Comparative Spatial Analysis

Urban accessibility profoundly influences cultural and social dynamics. As historic port cities evolve, understanding how spatial form mediates change is essential. This study compares Porto and Cagliari by integrating space syntax to assess accessibility at multiple scales. Porto displays adaptable, polycentric integration aligned with cultural revitalisation, while Cagliari shows a centralised structure with reduced accessibility in its historic core. These spatial differences reveal uneven cultural access. Future research may incorporate demographic and mobility data to deepen insights. The study concludes that spatial configuration is a vital lens for guiding inclusive, culturally responsive urban planning in heritage-rich port cities.