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Go to Editorial ManagerThis study focused on the urban transformations resulting from the removal processes taking place in the urban fabric of sacred city centers, under the pretext of increasing urban capacity due to the density of use, which leads to the removal of important parts of the traditional urban fabric and adding them to the public urban space. To determine the amount of usage densities that the area can accommodate represented by the case study, which is the center of the holy city of Najaf: the study was based on using a quantitative measurement approach to test the hypothesis using a multivariable density measurement tool. A space matrix capable of measuring densities, accessibility, and diversity in the fabric during three time periods, a historical period 1900, 1990, and the current time 2024, to know the amount of changes that have occurred in the fabric. A qualitative measurement tool, which is a random sample questionnaire, was used to measure perceived density to find out which fabrics within the city center are more accommodating of congestion. The research has found that high and advanced accessibility through an integrated fabric with high connectivity that makes the city spaces work as one space leads to an increase in flows. It works to reduce the momentum in the city center and thus preserve the traditional urban fabric that must be emptied for pedestrians, as it represents the only fabric with The human scale at the level of the city as a whole (i.e. a fabric that is comfortable for pedestrians) also represents the identity of the area, and to accommodate the densities, the percentage of building density must be increased outside the traditional fabric.
The paper focuses on the role of participatory design and its various methods—such as awareness methods, social interaction methods, as well as indirect and open methods— that involve all citizens in the process of design, implementation, and future development process. The architect's role in this process is to transform the desires and visions of the participants into a practical reality, ensuring that their needs are met to create vibrant spaces. This involves achieving specific indicators that generate vitality in these spaces, including diversity, communication opportunities, strong identity, concentrated density, accessibility, and safety, all of which enhance social interaction. The paper referred to a number of international examples in Norway and Denmark, and Arab examples in Jordan that proved the effectiveness of the participatory approach in achieving vital environments. Hence, the research problem is represented by the following questions: How does participatory design contribute to enhancing the vitality of the space? To what extent is the participatory design methodology applied to enhance vitality and help achieve a sense of belonging within the space? The paper findings emphasized the importance of participatory design in meeting the needs of the local community and in creating a vital, safe, and inclusive environment characterized by social cohesion, cooperation, ownership, belonging, and equality. This highlights the importance of encouraging the entire community to engage in the design process, which can lead to creative ideas and empower citizens. The paper recommends adopting the participatory design approach to improve the quality of life and enhance the vitality of urban spaces.
Planning standards in most countries especially in Iraq have become old and inadequate and do not fulfill the growing needs of people in the meanwhile. Also, it does not provide solutions for the society problems since it does not came from deep and modern study of the society needs and problems. In Iraq, there is a clear neglect of the urban spaces in residential buildings. As the challenges of 21st century, climate change, pollution and health crises requires infrastructure which is capable of keeping up with people needs and capable of providing healthy life, wellbeing and economic recovery. The study explores the efficiency of urban spaces in one of the Iraqi new residential complexes which is Alamal residential complex to determine the factors that affect urban spaces in vertical residential buildings in Iraq. The evaluation of the spaces was done by using direct observation method and questionnaire method. Results revealed that the spaces in such residential complex were active and efficient but it needs more spaces to be available since vertical residential buildings have high density of people. Also, there was a good care of urban spaces that fulfill the needs of children to play and also spaces which are friendly to old people. Most participants in the questionnaire have declared that the public urban space (space 3) was the most used, most favored space since it has many activities and facilities which support social activities between people living in the residential complex.