THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACES IN THE CITY CENTRE OF ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

The pace of urban growth and the change in economic, political and social conditions in the Third World are giving rise to great pressure for change in city centres and affecting the quality of their public open spaces. However, little attention has been paid to the specific characteristics and conceptions of quality associated with particular cultures. This research aims to develop an approach to qualitative appraisal which is sensitive to the cultural context- its material aspect as expressed in local morphologies, and also the interests and perceptions of quality associated with various actors involved in the processes of production, consumption, and control of the built environment. A study of the case of Alexandria city centre is carried out, which identifies the cultural determinants affecting the perception of quality by different actors, assesses the quality of public spaces from their viewpoints, and develops culturally appropriate guidelines for improving public spaces. This research adopts an inductive approach, involving different actors, using multiple methods of inquiry. A study of Alexandria's urban morphology highlights the components of the built form and the spatial structure of activities which are particular characteristics of the local culture and stresses the city centre's potential for public use. A pilot survey identifies the interests of different actors, which affect the way in which they perceive the quality of public spaces. Various approaches to urban quality assessment are reviewed revealing a set of key aspects relating to both physical design and management policies, and establishing criteria for assessing the quality of public spaces. A new methodology for qualitative assessment of public spaces in Alexandria is developed by relating the physical aspects of quality to the morphological components of the urban fabric, and the management aspects to the roles of actors. A set of quality indicators appropriate for Alexandria are established and the methodology is then applied to the city centre to assess the extent to which physical and management aspects support the interests of different actors. The qualitative assessment leads to the formulation of preliminary proposals for resolving the problems identified and preserving the positive qualities of existing spaces. These include suggestions and recommendations aiming to serve culture-specific interests, which are then tested with all actors, thus determining their acceptability and implementation potential. Based on this, final recommendations are developed for improving the quality of public spaces in central Alexandria. They include a basic agenda with broad guidelines for qualitative improvements in physical and management terms, and an implementation strategy, with enhanced roles for all actors involved. Finally, an alternative inductive approach is proposed for the qualitative appraisal of public spaces, founded on awareness of particular contexts, and offering a high degree of sensitivity to diverse urban structures and cultural determinants. This approach incorporates particular morphologies and culture-specific conceptions of quality to build up insights into the issue of urban quality, and to create a responsive process for its improvement.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Abdel-Salam, Hassan

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/s5gk-rg54

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:604dc02f-7653-4cf6-ba92-41a9fd68ffb5:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1