Spatial variation in the potential for social interaction: A case study in Flanders (Belgium)

Empirical evidence is mounting that good urban design fosters the formation of social fabric. Existing evidence is however limited in at least two respects. First, empirical studies have focused largely on social interactions taking place within the residential neighborhood, while leaving social encounters near the workplace unconsidered. Second, while various studies have examined the impact of the built environment on realized social behavior, there is as yet no empirical research on the potential for having social contact. A deeper understanding of the geography of social interaction potential is nonetheless important, for it is individuals’ social opportunities rather than their preferences and actual choices that are most directly amenable to policy intervention. This paper seeks to address both issues in an empirical case study in Flanders and Brussels (Belgium). An exploratory spatial analysis is conducted to uncover spatial trends in the potential for social interaction in order to better understand the role of urban spatial structure in the production of social interaction potential.