Scaling urban complexities and their influence on accessibility and spatial resilience

Urban design must reconcile spatial complexity with accessibility and resilience, particularly in constrained island contexts. This study integrates space syntax and fractal analysis to examine three Sardinian cities: Sassari, Olbia, and Cagliari. Findings reveal contrasting urban logics – Sassari’s integrated but monocentric core, Olbia’s dispersed heterogeneity with potential for polycentric growth, and Cagliari’s compact yet fragmented structure shaped by heritage and topography. These patterns highlight design priorities: strengthening peripheral networks, linking dispersed sub-centres, and reconciling conservation with connectivity. Beyond Sardinia, the study demonstrates how combined configurational and fractal diagnostics provide transferable tools for designing legible, walkable, and resilient urban environments.