Seeing and being seen: spatial visibility and the pedestrian mobility in urban public squares

Despite extensive research on urban public spaces, many studies primarily focus on physical design attributes such as seating, greenery, and aesthetic improvements, while comparatively less attention has been given to the relationship between spatial configuration, visual permeability, and observed pedestrian presence in neighborhood squares. Consequently, some public spaces remain underused despite offering comparable urban amenities and physical qualities. In response to this gap, this study investigates the relationship between spatial visibility, configurational attributes, and pedestrian mobility in urban public squares. The research aims to examine how differences in spatial configuration and visibility conditions correspond with variations in pedestrian movement patterns within public spaces. A quantitative comparative approach was adopted, combining empirical pedestrian observations with configurational spatial analysis based on space syntax theory, Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA), land use mapping and Isovist analysis. Two neighborhood squares in Cagliari, Italy, were selected as comparative case studies. The results indicate that squares characterized by stronger visual accessibility and clearer visual permeability to surrounding streets are associated with significantly higher levels of pedestrian presence. In contrast, visually concealed spaces with fragmented visibility structures correspond with lower levels of observed pedestrian activity despite offering similar amenities. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that higher local spatial integration alone does not necessarily correspond to greater pedestrian presence. Instead, visual permeability and visibility from the surrounding street network emerge as decisive factors influencing the intensity and distribution of pedestrian activity within neighborhood public squares. The originality of this research lies in demonstrating that local spatial integration alone is insufficient to explain pedestrian use of neighborhood public squares, highlighting the complementary role of visual permeability and surrounding visibility conditions through the combined application of axial analysis, VGA, Isovist analysis, land use mapping, and empirical observation. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on visibility-sensitive urban design and evidence-informed planning approaches for improving the vitality of neighborhood public spaces.