A study of the relation between the spatial structure of the city and the quality of urban development using Space Syntax A case study of Mashhad

The primary spatial patterns and the main structures of cities are now changing, due to the present sprawl development patterns. These factors have deconstructed the unified structure of cities and have caused spatial segregation of different parts of these settlements, especially central and old fabrics and finally resulted in their socio- economic segregation. On the other hand, external urban expansion led to a complicated physical and spatial structure, which is impossible to perceive its morphology in its totality. One of the theories and methods for exploring urban spatial structure is space syntax. Space syntax theory and technique is able to analyze urban spatial structure in relation to all spatial characteristic of the city. Also, the main purpose of this research is to answer this question that is there a meaningful relation between changes in value of spatial integration (resulting from space syntax analysis) and changes in value of development quality (socio-economical, physical and environmental development) of neighborhoods?