EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND NEW COMMERCIAL CENTER IN NABLUS: A SPACE SYNTAX ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study investigates the spatial relationship between the traditional (the old city) and new commercial center (Midan al-Shuhada) - (al-dawar) in Nablus using a combined space syntax and agent-based modelling approach. It aims to understand how spatial configuration influences accessibility, movement patterns, and the overall performance of the urban network. The methodology is based on a comparative analysis of the existing spatial structure and a modified model incorporating proposed spatial strategies. Using DepthmapX, key syntactic measures-Integration, Choice, and Connectivity- are analyzed at multiple scales (R3, R5, Rn), with a focus on the local scale (R5), an agent-based model is applied to simulate pedestrian movement and evaluate how spatial changes affect movement distribution. The results show a highly centralized movement system in the existing condition, where accessibility and flow are concentrated along the main eastwest axis. The proposed strategies, which include strengthening secondary streets and improving network connectivity, significantly enhance spatial accessibility and local cohesion. Integration and connectivity analysis indicate a more balanced network structure, while Gate Count results confirm a redistribution of movement across multiple streets. However, choice analysis shows that movement remains partially dependent on the main axis, highlighting a gap between spatial potential and actual movement behavior. This suggest that improving accessibility alone is insufficient to fully redistribute movement. The study concludes that spatial configuration plays a critical role in shaping urban performance. It emphasizes the need for multi-scalar, spatially informed planning strategies to achieve a more balanced and resilient urban system in Nablus and similar contexts.