Spatial development,density gradients and their planning implications: The Rome case

Like urban space population density patterns are constantly changing. While Newling observed four stages of density gradients from youthful through mature and old stages of a city, this study shows that Rome was not a youthful city at the end of the 19th century yet Newling's youthful stage density gradients were prevalent at that time. In the 20th century, like Newling's later stages Rome also showed depopulation of the center leading to a crater-like density gradient. City planning policies were only partially responsible for patterning the density over the century. Though Newling's model is not applicable in the 19th century Rome, it is largely valid when automobiles were introduced.