Abstract

This paper reviews recent research into poverty and spatial form and describes how the application of space syntax methods to this research area, coupled with the use of primary data from the Charles Booth maps of Poverty in 19th century London, has enabled analysis of the socio-economic and spatial structure of areas frequently perceived as 'ghettos'. Through a comparison of two distinctive areas of London - Soho in the West End and the famously poor area of London's East End, the analysis shows a consistent correspondence between poverty and spatial segregation. Booth's economically based 'line of poverty', used to distinguish between those 'in poverty' and those living 'in comfort' is supplemented in this paper by a proposed spatially defined line of poverty, distinguishing between poor, spatially segregated streets and more prosperous, spatially integrated streets. Furthermore, through the application of the latest segment angular techniques, space syntax analysis reveals a new finding relating to the formation of poverty areas, which combine low integration with large numbers of small street blocks, suggesting that this combination of spatial factors helps explain the persistence of poverty and poor quality housing, detrimental to the living standards of the poverty classes. This finding also helps explain how such areas can create a sense of entering 'another world', with the emergence of sub-cultures and new communities. The paper concludes with the proposition that when such areas are located close to economically active, well integrated streets, such spatial patterning can serve as a necessary mechanism for the social integration of minorities and is frequently part of a natural process of acculturation and integration in the urban environment.