THE AFFORDANCE OF URBAN CHARACTERISTICS TO PROMOTE CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS: A CASE STUDY ON ALKHALIFA NEIGHBORHOOD, CAIRO

Abstract

Summary: This research explores the functional meaning of the environment i.e. the affordances, in relation to the urban characteristics to promote the child friendly environments. A methodological framework is deduced from literature to evaluate the child environments using the affordance theory. The child friendly environments are identified through vitality theory to deduce a list of characteristics by which the case study is selected. Alkhalifa neighborhood within the Historic Cairo is chosen as a case study. This research work concludes the main characteristics that influenced the availability of affordances, which are land use ownership, type and diversity. The street scale, walkability, safety and social context show their fundamental role as well.