Urban vitality in Valencia
Urban vitality
Urban vitality indicates the capacity of the built environment to foster activities in public space. A JANE index based on the theories of Jane Jacobs is used to measure vitality.
Valencia is a vital city. The highest values are found in 39% of the urban core. The potential for social interaction does not depend on distance from the center, so vitality is high in all neighborhoods of the city. The lowest values are found in the periphery and the Turia River, which crosses the city from east to west.
What does urban vitality depend on?
The degree of urban vitality is the result of the different variables that make up the JANE index: concentration, functional diversity, opportunity for contact, diversity of buildings, accessibility and distance to border elements.
Spatial concentration
Valencia is a city that concentrates a large number of residential, commercial and equipment activities. Spatial concentration values are very high in neighborhoods in the north, south and east of the city, such as Russafa, Gran Vía, Benimaclet or La Creu del Grau. The lowest values are found in monofunctional areas (green areas, river courses, port, ring roads, industrial areas and the university campus).
Functional diversity
Valencia is a very functionally diverse city. 30.5% of the urban core has a high functional diversity. Spatial specialization is residual and concentrated in the periphery, in industrial areas in the south, hospital centers, the Joaquín Sorolla railway station and urban parks.
Contact opportunity
Opportunities for contact and interaction in the streets of Valencia are heterogeneous. Contact opportunities are high in 22% of the urban core. The highest values are concentrated in the center but also in neighborhoods such as Russafa, Gran Vía, Benimaclet and La Creu del Grau. Contact opportunities are low in the periphery.
Diversity of buildings
Valencia is a city in which diverse buildings coexist, with a difference of 419 years between the time of construction of the different buildings. Malilla, La Fontenta and El Grau (south) and Benicalap (north) are the neighborhoods with buildings from the most different periods. In large parts of the city there is a predominance of extensions from the same period.
Accessibility
Valencia is an accessible city with a polycentric distribution. Accessibility is high in 29% of the urban core. The highest values are found in the city center, between Sant Francesc, Russafa and La Gran Via. The neighborhoods of Canyabal-Canyanelar, Mestalla, Exposició, Ciudad Universitaria and Benicalop are also very accessible. On the other hand, the surroundings of the Turia river and the periphery show low accessibility values.
Border elements
In Valencia, the border elements that hinder social contact in the public space are the Turia River, which crosses the city from west to east, and the city’s railway station (Joaquin Sorolla Adif Station).
Location map
