PUBLIC SPACES AS AN ENTRANCE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL TRANSITIONAL COMMUNITIES IN HISTORIC CITIES-CASE STUDY-BAB AL SHARIYAH

Abstract

Key Words: Public Space; Bab El Shariyah; Transitional Community; Urban Development; Historic Cities Summary: Public spaces in Cairo, face many problems on different levels from cultural to environmental aspects. Public spaces especially in historic areas are extremely neglected except some areas where the development projects took place. The world cultural heritage of the historic Islamic town is one important element of this urban development process. The Public spaces and the historic monuments and buildings must be protected and rehabilitated to maintain the identity and the character of the town. On the other hand, there were new urban morphologies in designed in the modern Egypt In 19th and 20th Century-Mohamed Ali Era-. This urban morphology was alien to the old historic morphology in Cairo. Intermediate urban spaces were created between these two contract morphologies and they were called Transitional areas. The problem is that these transitional neighborhoods are critical areas throughout history, they gained some characteristics from their surrounding morphologies with lost identity and definition, and as a result they faced a crucial problem to determine their own features. The objectives is to, develop the transitional community in historic cities: through public spaces; socially, economically and environmentally to reach a sustainable development. The expected results is through a Participatory process which targets to involve stakeholders in the transitional areas development. A criteria and guidelines will be concluded in defining the public spaces in neglected communities and end up with a pilot project with actual interventions that can be applicable in similar districts.