Morphological Dynamics of Tram-Led Regeneration: A Space Syntax Study of the Trambesòs Line in Barcelona

Emilio Reyes-Schade, Sara Molarinho Marques (), Ayman Imam, Abdulrhman M. Gbban, Mohammed Alamoudi, Abdulaziz Afandi, Roba Shaheen, Ahmad Fallatah and David Cueto
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Emilio Reyes-Schade: Department of Architecture and Design, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Sara Molarinho Marques: Department of Architecture and Design, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Ayman Imam: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrhman M. Gbban: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Alamoudi: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Afandi: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Roba Shaheen: Department of Interior Design & Furniture, Faculty of Human Sciences & Designs, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad Fallatah: Department of Geomatics, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
David Cueto: Department of Environment and Quality, Aguas de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 13002, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-30

Abstract: Surface-guided tram systems are increasingly being recognised not only as mobility instruments but also as agents of urban regeneration that reshape spatial and social dynamics. This study evaluates the configurational impact of the Trambesòs tram in Barcelona on accessibility, integration, and urban cohesion within the Levante del Besòs area. A Space Syntax analysis was conducted in UCL DepthmapX for axial map analysis and visual graph analysis within a 500 m radius around each station. Three typologies of intervention (site-specific, articulation axes, and saturation pieces) guided the assessment. This analysis shows that Avinguda Diagonal and Avinguda Meridiana are primary structural corridors, while stations Glòries, Ca l’Aranyó, and Pere IV recorded the highest accessibility and visual openness. The results indicate that targeted interventions have positive impacts on the Space Syntax metrics regardless of their spatial centrality, highlighting the critical role of this diverse intervention typology in shaping the study area’s spatial configuration and influencing a hierarchy of social appropriation and use. It is concluded that the Trambesòs tram and associated urban interventions have jointly enhanced centrality and permeability in key sectors, and specific peripheral enclaves have local functioning. These findings, focused on spatial and morphological patterns, may support future interventions in urban design and mobility planning. Although the analysis centres on spatial configuration, future research may integrate socioeconomic variables to broaden the understanding of regeneration processes.

Keywords: urban cohesion; public transportation; sustainable transportation; visibility graph; axial analysis; Space Syntax theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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