Modelling spatial integration and cultural visibility in urban street networks: A case study of Sydney's Chinese communities

Cultural expression in the built environment plays a vital role in shaping the identity, visibility, and spatial experience of ethnic communities in multicultural cities. In urban contexts where the street network structures both movement and encounter, the visibility of culturally embedded design elements contributes to how ethnic presence is perceived and navigated. However, existing urban analysis frameworks often overlook the interplay between spatial structure and cultural visibility. To address this gap, this study develops the Spatio-Cultural Integration and Visibility Framework (SCIVF) – the first integrated methodology that systematically measures the alignment of spatial accessibility and cultural expression. SCIVF combines three indices: the Spatial Encounter Index (SEI) , integrating Space Syntax metrics with machine learning to model spatial accessibility and its influence on point-of-interest (POI) distribution; the Cultural Expression Index (CEI) , quantifying the distribution and intensity of cultural markers in the built environment; and the Cultural Integration Index (CII) , spatially overlaying SEI and CEI to identify zones of alignment or disjunction. Through a proof-of-concept application in four Chinese communities in Sydney, the study demonstrates that high network integration tends to support broader and more coherent cultural expression (as in Burwood), while localised connectivity can also support robust cultural expression and social cohesion (as in Eastwood, which exhibits high CEI and low CII ). Although exploratory, SCIVF provides a scalable and transferable tool for culturally responsive planning that does not compromise community autonomy and cohesion. • Multi-index framework (SCIVF) models spatio-cultural integration in street networks. • Machine learning refines Space Syntax weights for the Spatial Encounter Index (SEI). • Facade imagery and POI mapping quantify cultural visibility in ethnic communities. • Overlay of spatial encounters and cultural visibility identifies integration zones. • Findings reveal distinct spatio-cultural patterns in Sydney's Chinese communities.