Emerging factors shaping identity of indigenous urbanism concurrently adopting modernity in qatar: The application of diffusion theory

Forms, designs, and symbols are the components of built environment, which transfer the information of place and identity to users. This research aimed to explore the emerging factors shaping the identity of local urban districts while adopting the global culture and modernity. To achieve this aim, the research has conducted two phases within which include a few steps. Phase one was to explore different urban zoning. It includes a detailed analysis of the different architectural styles and elements that have spread the identity concerning the main constituents of urban zones. Because of the difficulty to survey the whole Doha region, this research has focused on four mega projects with different characteristics in Doha Governorates; Pearl Qatar (representing Islamic architecture), Souq Waqif (representing traditional architecture), Msheireb project (as the combination of traditional and modern architecture), and West Bay (as the reference for global approach). Phase one has two steps; Field Observation and Field survey. Phase two was to explore the new elements spread for built environment's identity with the concentration on the selected sites in Doha. Phase two has two steps; Photo survey and Interviews. To test the proposed premise, this phase prolonged into human geography using Torsten Hagerstrand's diffusion theory. The findings of this research help architects and urban designers to enhance susers' awareness of their natural environment, and provide a better perception of identity in local urban districts and vernacular architecture, based on instinct and strategic view derived from the global culture and societal modern architecture principles.Scopu

Fault Traces: Civilian Architectural Responses in the Syrian Civil War

In the discourse of urban warfare, architecture normally has two roles: it is the object of destruction during fighting, and the object of reconstruction after conflict ends. There is little consideration for a third role of architecture: construction that happens in the heat of conflict. During the Battle of Aleppo (2012 – 2017) in Syria, combatants depended on the city to fight and in doing so radically transformed it. Combatants in Aleppo, like in most contemporary conflicts, created, targeted, and manipulated urban space for power. When the city transformed to both battlefield and weapon, its residents were at risk in their own homes and neighbourhoods. Contrary to our perception of civil society during crisis however, people in Aleppo were not just passive victims of war; they were active participants in shaping the city but for survival rather than power. I refer to this urban phenomenon as ‘civilian architectural response,’ where people must cope with violence by creating and changing the urban space around them. Their interventions in the city could be anything from building new structures, to altering existing ones, to creating new resource networks. Civilian architectural responses give necessary insight into the effects of war on civil society at the human scale, embody a new collective memory, and inform resilient visions of reconstruction. What makes Aleppo and other conflict cities today different from earlier wars is the ability for outsiders to peer into the place of conflict as it happens. Thanks to the contemporary ubiquity of phone cameras and social media, people document almost every act of war and broadcast it to the world. In that footage is an opportunity to fill the gap between our understanding of architecture as a target of destruction, and architecture as a project of reconstruction. In this thesis I investigate, document, and analyse civilian architectural responses in Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War. I consider each case from its materiality, to its urban environment, to its place in the conflict. I also outline a method based on forensics and crowd-sourced footage to conduct this analysis. I compose responses into three types: movement, civil space – where residents live – and infrastructure. Each section begins with a look at the violent, urban forces that threatened civil society followed by an account of the civilian architectural responses that resisted them

A Quality Assessment Directory for Evaluating Multi-functional Public Spaces

Public spaces facilitate opportunities for social interaction and promote social life. The social-spatial complexity of public spaces can be explored through the relationship between built forms and users\u27 daily social activities. The contemporary needs of users have retrofitted or replaced the controversial public spaces such as streets, depriving the prime function of sustaining and facilitating social life. Thus, any factors influencing users\u27 social/public life impact the quality of public spaces. Also, contextualization and definition of public spaces necessitate an evaluation of their quality. The lack of a quality assessment directory (QAD) for evaluating multi-functional public spaces motivated us to address it. To achieve the aim, this research has conducted a systematic literature review applying the content analysis to explore the principles and indicators influencing and enhancing social interactions in multi-functional public space design and then performed a normalization analysis to measure the weight of each indicator. The QAD constitutes five criteria (C1-Inclusiveness, C2-Desirable activities, C3-Comfort, C4-Safety, C5-Pleasurability), and forty-two (42) embedded sub-criteria. The research found that Inclusiveness (WnC1 = 4.38) and Pleasurability (WnC2 = 3.88) have received the highest weights. Also, the research found that the sub-criteria \u27Physical/visual connection or openness to adjacent spaces\u27 (WnSc.4.1 = 1.00), \u27Users of diverse ages\u27 and \u27Community gathering third places\u27 (Wn = 0.750) have received the highest weights. Using such a QAD, urban professionals can quantify the effectiveness and efficiency of public spaces\u27 environmental and physical qualities in promoting social interactions and sociability

Factors emergents que configuren la identitat de l'urbanisme indígena adoptant simultàniament la modernitat a Qatar: l'aplicació de la teoria de la difusió

Las formas, los diseños y los símbolos son los componentes del entorno construido, que transfieren la información del lugar y la identidad a los usuarios. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo explorar los factores emergentes que dan forma a la identidad de los distritos urbanos locales al tiempo que adopta la cultura y la modernidad global. Para lograr este objetivo, la investigación ha llevado a cabo dos fases dentro de las cuales se incluyen algunos pasos. La primera fase fue explorar diferentes zonas urbanas. Incluye un análisis detallado de los diferentes estilos y elementos arquitectónicos que han difundido la identidad de los principales constituyentes de las zonas urbanas. Debido a la dificultad de encuestar a toda la región de Doha, esta investigación se ha centrado en cuatro megaproyectos con diferentes características en las gobernaciones de Doha; Pearl Qatar (que representa la arquitectura islámica), Souq Waqif (que representa la arquitectura tradicional), el proyecto Msheireb (como la combinación de la arquitectura tradicional y moderna) y West Bay (como referencia para el enfoque global). La fase uno tiene dos pasos; Observación de campo y estudio de campo. La segunda fase fue explorar los nuevos elementos difundidos para la identidad del entorno construido con la concentración en los sitios seleccionados en Doha. La fase dos tiene dos pasos; Encuesta fotográfica y entrevistas. Para probar la premisa propuesta, esta fase se prolongó en la geografía humana utilizando la teoría de difusión de Torsten Hagerstrand. Los resultados de esta investigación ayudan a los arquitectos y diseñadores urbanos a mejorar la conciencia de los usuarios sobre su entorno natural y a proporcionar una mejor percepción de la identidad en los distritos urbanos locales y la arquitectura vernácula, basándose en el instinto y la visión estratégica derivada de la cultura global y la arquitectura social moderna.Les formes, els dissenys i els símbols són els components de l'entorn construït, que transfereixen la informació de el lloc i la identitat als usuaris. Aquesta investigació va tenir com a objectiu explorar els factors emergents que donen forma a la identitat dels districtes urbans locals a el temps que adopta la cultura i la modernitat global. Per aconseguir aquest objectiu, la investigació s'ha dut a terme dues fases dins de les quals s'inclouen alguns passos. La primera fase va ser explorar diferents zones urbanes. Inclou una anàlisi detallada dels diferents estils i elements arquitectònics que han difós la identitat dels principals constituents de les zones urbanes. A causa de la dificultat d'enquestar a tota la regió de Doha, aquesta investigació s'ha centrat en quatre megaprojectes amb diferents característiques en les governacions de Doha; Pearl Qatar (que representa l'arquitectura islàmica), Souq Waqif (que representa l'arquitectura tradicional), el projecte Msheireb (com la combinació de l'arquitectura tradicional i moderna) i West Bay (com a referència per l'enfocament global). La fase un té dos passos; Observació de camp i estudi de camp. La segona fase va ser explorar els nous elements difosos per la identitat de l'entorn construït amb la concentració en els llocs seleccionats a Doha. La fase dos té dos passos; Enquesta fotogràfica i entrevistes. Per provar la premissa proposta, aquesta fase es va perllongar en la geografia humana utilitzant la teoria de difusió de Torsten Hägerstrand. Els resultats d'aquesta investigació ajuden als arquitectes i dissenyadors urbans a millorar la consciència dels usuaris sobre el seu entorn natural i a proporcionar una millor percepció de la identitat en els districtes urbans locals i l'arquitectura vernacla, basant-se en l'instint i la visió estratègica derivada de la cultura global i l'arquitectura social moderna.Forms, designs, and symbols are the components of built environment, which transfer the information of place and identity to users. This research aimed to explore the emerging factors shaping the identity of local urban districts while adopting the global culture and modernity. To achieve this aim, the research has conducted two phases within which include a few steps. Phase one was to explore different urban zoning. It includes a detailed analysis of the different architectural styles and elements that have spread the identity concerning the main constituents of urban zones. Because of the difficulty to survey the whole Doha region, this research has focused on four mega projects with different characteristics in Doha Governorates; Pearl Qatar (representing Islamic architecture), Souq Waqif (representing traditional architecture), Msheireb project (as the combination of traditional and modern architecture), and West Bay (as the reference for global approach). Phase one has two steps; Field Observation and Field survey. Phase two was to explore the new elements spread for built environment’s identity with the concentration on the selected sites in Doha. Phase two has two steps; Photo survey and Interviews. To test the proposed premise, this phase prolonged into human geography using Torsten Hagerstrand’s diffusion theory. The findings of this research help architects and urban designers to enhance susers’ awareness of their natural environment, and provide a better perception of identity in local urban districts and vernacular architecture, based on instinct and strategic view derived from the global culture and societal modern architecture principles.Peer Reviewe