Spatial distribution of economic activities in heritage cities: The case of the historic city of Toledo, Spain.

Heritage buildings and street network properties significantly influence the spatial distribution of economic activities in historic cities. Using Toledo, Spain, as a case study, researchers found that the presence of heritage sites like cathedrals and town halls, combined with two key urban design metrics—spatial integration (how connected a street segment is to the city) and spatial choice (its prominence or visibility)—can accurately predict where economic activity, particularly tourism-related, thrives. The study employed street audits to map ground-floor activities, Space Syntax analysis to measure integration and choice at neighborhood and city-wide scales, and GIS tools to assess proximity to heritage buildings. Statistical modeling confirmed that these three variables—heritage intensity, spatial integration, and spatial choice—collectively explain the distribution of economic activity in Toledo's historic center.

Ruiz-Apilánez, B., Solís, E., Romero de Ávila, V., Alía, C., García-Camacha, I., & Martín, R. (2017). Spatial distribution of economic activities in heritage cities: The case of the historic city of Toledo, Spain. Proceedings 24th ISUF 2017 - City and Territory in the Globalization Age. https://doi.org/10.4995/isuf2017.2017.5164