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An Urban Maze

Why some parts of town are hard to navigate. Maze expert Dr Ruth Dalton takes us on a tour of the Barbican Estate in London.

Why are some parts of town are hard to navigate? Mazes may seem like a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon – but living in a maze can be a problem. Navigation expert Dr Ruth Dalton takes us on a tour of the Barbican Estate in London, a famous example of Brutalist architecture but many people struggle to find their way around the area. She explains the impact of β€œintelligibility” on a local economy, and outlines a link between map-reading and dementia.

Presenter: Tim Harford and Jordan Dunbar

Producer: Hannah Sander

(Photo: 'Floating' gardens in the Barbican Estate, Credit: Roger Jackson/Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Tue 9 May 2017 01:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 8 May 2017 12:50GMT
  • Tue 9 May 2017 01:50GMT

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