Reading underused urban spaces: Aberdeen views

This paper explores the application of a combination of urban analysis methods in order to gather data and explore the implications of abandonment in a city. Nowadays, in a period of economic recession, developments based on demolitions and reconstructions, are not always suitable. The direction of this paper includes the idea of existing areas, buildings and their reuse as a main and primary starting point of the built environment sustainability. The research uses Aberdeen, Scotland, as a case study. Within the research, the concept of urban abandonment is explored across three subcategories, which enable the clarification of differences between various urban conditions and features.

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate that a certain combination of qualitative methods can enable a detailed exploration of the current urban situation. This detailed information enabled to gather more empirical quantitative data based on the consideration raised from the analysis. The work is original in that it seeks to combine theories of abandonment with the spatial assessment of urban environments, and thus holds the potential to carry significance within urban design and planning practice.