Towards_Sustainable_Neighborhood_Design

Mansoura University
Faculty of Engineering
Architectural Engineering Department

Towards Sustainable Neighborhood Design in
Egypt

By
Mokhtar Hosny Ahmed Akl

A Thesis submitted to Architectural Engineering Department
in partial fulfillment of MSc. in Architecture

Supervisors
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sherif Ahmed Sheta

Associate Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design, faculty of Engineering,
Mansoura University, Egypt

Dr. Ibrahim Rezq Hegazy

Lecturer, Architecture Engineering Department, faculty of Engineering, Mansoura
University, Egypt

2015

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH

Supervisors

Thesis Title: Towards Sustainable Neighborhood Design in Egypt

Researcher Name: Mokhtar Hosny Ahmed Akl

Scientific degree: M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering.

Supervisors Committee

Name Position Signature

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Associate Professor of Architecture and
Environmental Design, faculty of Engineering,
Sherif Ahmed Sheta
Mansoura University, Egypt
Dr.
Lecturer, Architecture Engineering
Ibrahim Rezq Hegazy Department, faculty of Engineering, Mansoura

University, Egypt

Head of Architectural Engineering Vice Dean for Post Graduate Studies
Department and Researches
Prof. Dr. Kassem Salah El-Alfy
Prof. Dr. Lamis Saad ElDin ElGezawy
Dean of Faculty
Prof.Dr. Zaki Mohamed Zidan

Examination Committee

Thesis Title: Towards Sustainable Neighborhood Design in Egypt

Researcher Name: Mokhtar Hosny Ahmed Akl

Scientific degree: M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering.

Supervisors Committee

Name Position Signature
Associate Professor of Architecture and
Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Environmental Design,
Sherif Ahmed Sheta faculty of Engineering,
Mansoura University, Egypt

Dr. Lecturer, Architecture Department, faculty of
Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt
Ibrahim Rezq Hegazy

Examination Committee

Name Position Signature
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Associate professor, Head of Architecture

Ayman Ahmed Othman Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, British University
Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Associate professor, Architectural
Sherif Ahmed Sheta Engineering Department, Faculty of

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Engineering,
Mansoura University
Alaa Mohamed Shams Associate Professor of Architecture and
ElDin ElEishy Environmental Design, faculty of

Engineering,
Mansoura University, Egypt

Head of Architectural Engineering Vice Dean for Post Graduate Studies
Department and Researches
Prof. Dr. Kassem Salah El-Alfy
Prof. Dr. Lamis Saad ElDin ElGezawy
Dean of Faculty
Prof.Dr. Zaki Mohamed Zidan

Architectural Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering
Mansoura University

Thesis Summery ( ) Library General Administration Library

Faculty Engineering Department Architectural No:
Name Degree Engineering Date:
Thesis Mokhtar Hosny Ahmed
Akl M.Sc. in
Architectural
Engineering

Towards Sustainable Neighborhood Design in Egypt

Summary

The research is concerned with studying neighborhoods design and
development in Egypt. Neighborhoods face many urban challenges and
threats which have environmental, social and economic impacts on any future
development. The research aims to develop environmentally responsible
model of neighborhoods. It could be achieved through sustainable planning
process, developing the mechanism of urban design elements and the resource
management of the physical environment in order to enhance quality of life
and sustain natural resources. The research discusses and analyzes urban
planning trends and rating systems for urban development to draw out design
elements and a set of criteria for enhancing physical urban context of
neighborhoods. An analytical study for neighborhood case studies is
performed to conclude the best sustainable practices of urban design
elements. The study also ensures the importance of computational simulation
use in planning and design processes to achieve high-performance buildings
and urban spaces. The research defines a methodology to develop Graduates
villages in Burullus lake into sustainable neighborhoods to accommodate
future urban development through optimizing urban parameters that would
collectively promote high density urban growth, maximize land efficiency,
develop mobility and energy systems and sustain natural resources with the
assistance of simulation tools.

Keywords

Neighborhood Design, Urban planning, Urban development, El-Burullus Lake, Urban
Simulation tools

Table of Contents Page
Table of Contents I
List of Figures iii
List of Table i
1
Abstract 1
1
Introduction 2
Research problem 2
Area of the Research 2
Aim of the Research 3
Objectives of the Research 4
Research Methodology 7
Structure of the Research 7
Chapter 1 Egypt reality and potentials 7
1.1 Urban Development Threats 9
10
1.1.1 Population Growth 11
1.1.2 Informal Settlements 13
1.1.3 Energy demand 13
1.1.4 Poverty levels 13
1.2 Egyptian experience in urban development 14
1.2.1 Formation of new cities 16
1.2.2 Classification of new cities in Egypt 17
1.2.3 Current problems and criticisms of the new cities 21
1.2.4 Case study: Sixth of October 23
1.3 Urban Development Potentials 23
1.4 Conclusion 23
25
Chapter 2 Urban Planning Approaches 27
28
2.1 Contemporary Planning Theories and Approaches 30
2.1.1 Sustainable Cities 33
2.1.2 Urban Smart Growth 33
2.1.3 New Urbanism 34
2.1.4 Urban Villages 35
2.1.5 Intelligent Urbanism 38
41
2.2 Neighborhood Model 45
2.2.1 Neighborhood definition 47
2.2.2 Neighborhood precedents 48
2.2.3 Neighborhood models
2.2.4 Neighborhood Form and morphology i
2.2.5 Neighborhood planning principals

2.3 Conclusion
Chapter 3 Assessment Tools for Urban Planning

3.1 Rating Systems Overview

3.1.1 BREEAM for Communities 48
3.1.2 CASBEE for Urban Development 51
3.1.3 DGNB for New Urban Districts 54
3.1.4 ESTIDAMA - The PEARL Community rating system 56
3.1.5 Cascadia: the Living Community Challenge 58
3.1.6 LEED for Neighborhood Development 60
3.2 Analysis of Rating Systems Categories 65
3.2.1 BREEAM for Communities Rating Categories 66
3.2.2 CASBEE for Urban Development Rating Categories 67
3.2.3 DGNB for New Urban Districts Rating Categories 69
3.2.4 ESTIDAMA - The PEARL Community Rating Categories 70
3.2.5 LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating Categories 71
3.2.6 Cascadia: the Living Community Challenge Rating Categories 72
3.3 National Green Building Rating System 72
3.4 Conclusion 73
Chapter 4 Planning Process and Design Elements 75
4.1 Design Process 75
4.1.1 Design process and management flowchart 75
4.1.2 New urban extensions six-stages 77
4.1.3 Design alternatives and approaches 80
4.1.4 Renewal Strategies: Reinforcement and Restructuring 82
4.2 Design Elements 86
4.2.1 Natural Systems 86
4.2.2 Land use Systems 89
4.2.3 Mobility Systems 96
4.2.4 Energy Systems 108
4.2.5 Environmental Management Systems 111
4.3 Computational Simulation for Urban and Neighborhood Analysis 116
3.3 Conclusion 121
Chapter 5 Neighborhood Case Studies 123
5.1 Case Study 1: Crystal City Palace, Washington, USA 124
5.1.1 Background 124
5.1.2 Objectives and Goals 125
5.1.3 Land use systems 130
5.1.4 Mobility systems 136
5.2 Case Study 2: The Solar Settlement in Freiburg, Germany 142
5.2.1 Background 142
5.2.2 Objectives and Goals 142
5.2.3 Energy Systems 144
5.3 Case Study 3: Hashtgerd new town, Tehran, Iran 146
5.3.1 Background 146
5.3.2 Objectives and Goals 148

ii

5.3.3 Environmental Management Systems: Water and Waste water management 150
5.3.4 Computational Simulation for Urban and Neighborhood Analysis 152
5.4 Conclusion 158
Chapter 6 Application 161
6.1 Site Context 161
6.2 General Urban Context Development 163
6.3 Analysis of 3 Graduates' villages land use 166
6.4 Building Forms and Capacity (Housing Types) 167
6.5 Development Strategies for Proposed Neighborhood 170
6.5.1 Development Scenario 1 172
6.5.2 Development Scenario 2 183

Conclusion and Recommendations 193
References 95
Arabic Abstract
200

No. List of Figures Page
1 Interactive main Issues for Sustainable Development 1
2 Thesis Structure 5
1-1 Historic and Future Population Trends in Egypt, 1990–2030 8
1-2 Population density in Egypt 8
1-3 Governorates of Greater Cairo including formal and informal settlements 9
1-4 Informal settlements on private, former agricultural lands, El Dakahilia Governorate 10
1-5 Energy consumption in Egypt, by fuel, 2013 11
1-6 Poverty headcount by governorate, 2008 12
1-7 The three generations of new towns map in Egypt 13
1-8 The current and expected population densities of new cities 15
1-9 The urban development of Sixth of October city from 2003 -2014 16
1-10 Map of Sixth of October city and its urban land use 17
1-11 The Strategic National plan for urban development 2052 19
1-12 Alternatives for the re-division of the republic to the regions and governorates 19
1-13 Rageh proposal Egypt 2020 developmental axes 20
1-14 Developmental Corridor, El-Baz scenario 20
2-1 Pillars for achieving sustainability of cities 23
2-2 Smart growth Principals 25
2-3 Urban Village Principals 28
2-4 Bulimba & Hawthorne urban village ,South-East Queensland Australia 28
2-5 Principals of Intelligent Urbanism 30
2-6 Thimphu, Bhutan, Intelligent Urbanism Case Study 32
2-7 The Garden City 34
2-8 Claren e Perry’s Neigh orhood Unit, 9 9 36
2-9 “ustaina le update of Perry’s neigh orhood unit 36

iii

2-10 Traditional Neighborhood Developments 37
2-11 Transit Oriented Development 37
2-12 Liveable Neighborhoods 37
2-13 Examples of neighborhood morphology 38
2-14 Interconnected pattern 39
2-15 Closed cell pattern, at Poundbery, Dorsat 40
2-16 Linear pattern, in Peterborough 41
2-17 UN-Habitat principal 2, High density- Churchill Gardens, London, England 42
2-18 UN-Habitat principle 1, Surface coverage 42
2-19 UN-Habitat principal 3, mixed land-use - Addison Circle, Addison, Texas, United
43
States
2-20 UN-Habitat principal 4, Social Mix - Greenwich Peninsula, London 43
2-21 UN-Habitat principal 5, Burrard Slopes, City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 44
3-1 BREEAM Schemes (BREEAM, 2015) 49
3-2 BREEAM Communities Steps 50
3-3 CASBEE Family 52
3-4 CASBEE Rating Charts 53
3-5 DGNB Quality Sections 54
3-6 DGNB Rating Chart 56
3-7 The Four Pillars of Estidama 56
3-8 Links between the Pearl Rating Systems 57
3-9 LEED Rating Systems 60
3-10 Classification of Design Elements Color Key 65
4-1 Design process and management flowchart 76
4-2 New urban extensions six-stages 77
4-3 Stage 1 - Public transport routes and nodes 78
4-4 Stage 2 - The greenspace/waterspace system 78
4-5 Stage 3 - Analyzing pedestrian accessibility 78
4-6 Stage 4 - Land-use pattern and density gradient 79
4-7 Stage 5 - Main networks of streets and route ways 79
4-8 Renewal Strategies illustrative diagrams 83
4-9 Land resource inventory and suitability analysis example 87
4-10 Land use systems - Designation of uses 90
4-11 Urban nodes 91
4-12 Mixed use development - Case study South yard Enclave in Devonport 92
4-13 Mixed use and Social mix 93
4-14 High-density, Mixed-use district 94
4-15 Comparing density measures 95
4-16 Different development forms at 75 units per hectare 95
4-17 Planning and Building legislation 96
4-18 Construction Phases Priorities for Services according to population density 97
4-19 Leaf Structure and Road Network 98

iv

4-20 Design Process of Roads Network 98
4-21 Road Network at Neighborhood scale 99
4-22 Pedestrian Realm 102
4-23 Comfortable walking distance for different people ages 102
4-24 Walkable Distances and Possible Facilities 103
4-25 Hierarchy of Public spaces which can be reached at different distances 104
4-26 Consider First Walkability 104
4-27 Public Transport Catchment Areas 105
4-28 Public Transport and movement framework 105
4-29 GEM neigh orhood vehi le 105
4-30 CHP is more efficient than Conventional Generation 108
4-31 Transforming The Global Energy Mix: The Exemplary Path To 2050/2100 109
4-32 Water types at Neighborhood Level 111
4-33 Hierarchy of MSW management approaches 114
4-34 Waste Management and Sustainable Society 114
4-35 Proximity principle; Waste Management 115
4-36 Revit/solar radiation analysis 118
4-37 Autodesk Ecotect Interface 118
4-38 Solar heating analysis using CFD 119
4-39 ENVI-met application in Young Cities 120
4-40 SOLARCHVISION Analysis 120
5-1 classification of Design elements through Case studies 123
5-2 Location of Case study 1: Crystal City Palace 124
5-3 Existing Illustrative Plan 2007 of Crystal City 125
5-4 Illustrative Concept Plan of Crystal City 126
5-5 Perspective of Crystal City Redevelopment opportunities 127
5-6 Crystal City Redevelopment opportunities 128
5-7 Block structure comparison between the existing and proposed conditions 128
5-8 Detailed design approaches for the west bank area redevelopment 129
5-9 Land Use Designation of Crystal City 131

The relationship of the underground concourse to street-front retail in a building 132
5-10
132
section 133
5-11 Building legislation- Mass strategy and buildable envelopes and setbacks 134
5-12 Base Density (Left side) and Building Heights (Right side) at Crystal City 135
5-13 Crystal City Skyline 136
5-14 Retail Frontage and open spaces in Crystal City 137
5-15 Street Network comparison between the existing and proposed conditions 138
5-16 Street Network and Typology map 139
5-17 Walkability and Transit modes illustrative maps in Crystal City 140
5-18 Multi-Modal Transfer Facility 141
5-19 Street design and Pedestrian Realm in Crystal City
5-20 Street types and sections in Crystal City

v

5-21 Location of Case study 2: The Solar Settlement 142
5-22 The Solar Settlement in Freiburg aerial view 143
5-23 The Solar Settlement site plan 143
5-24 View from south-east showing the PV-roofs 144
5-25 Underneath view of support structure for PV Modules 144
5-26 Vertical section: PV-modules support structure 144
5-27 Time-dependent profiles for consumption and generation, taking one house as an
145
example
5-28 Location of Case Study 3: Hashtgerd new town 146
5-29 Proposed land use for Hashtgerd New Town 147
5-30 Aerial view of Shahre Javan Community Area 147
5-31 Proposed land use of Shahre Javan Community Area 148
5-32 Catch up strategy 150
5-33 Modern strategy 151
5-34 Overtaking strategy 151
5-35 Proposed rainwater treatment in Case study 3 151
5-36 Proposed waste water concept in Case study 3 151
5-37 9 m building type model with shading in June using Autodesk ECOTECT 152
5-38 Year-cycle outdoor analysis of different alternatives of urban fabric in Hashtgerd 153
5-39 Optimization sub-neighborhood layout designs 153
5-40 Comparing solar radiation in three samples 154
5-41 Simulation of low-rise building layout by ENVI-met 4 155
5-42 Compare PET between low- and heigh-rise layout in all open space 155
5-43 Compare low-rise and high-rise building layout in middle point of site 155
5-44 SOLARCHVISION analysis of the Shahre Javan Community during different periods 156
5-45 SOLARCHVISION passive analysis on a neighborhood scale in different periods 157
5-46 Image of soil temperature simulation of the sub-grid of Hashtgerd 157
6-1 The location of case study at Burullus lake 162
6-2 The location of the Graduates' villages 162
6-3 Analysis of the Surrounding urban landuse resources for case study site 162
6-4 Water bodies surrounding case study site 162
6-5 Land use image of Burullus area in 2009 163
6-6 linkage to surrounding urban and rural areas 163
6-7 Regional plan for North Coast of Nile Delta 164
6-8 Proposed land allocation for various uses (acres) 164
6-9 Proposed Land use plan for North Coast of Burullus 165
6-10 Site photo shows Physical urban Condition 167
6-11 Residents interventions 168
6-12 Project Organization Chart 170
6-13 Current land use of application site 173
6-14 Potential of mixed-use at application site 174
6-15 Development Proposal of land use of Application model 175

vi

6-16 Walking distances from Neighborhood center 176
6-17 Public open green spaces 176
6-18 small shop hubs and nursery centers within walking distance 176
6-19 Roads Network and Types for application model 177
6-20 Road types 178
6-21 Proposed public transport catchment areas for Application model 178
6-22 Cumulative solar radiation comparative results on residential building roofs and
181
facades
6-23 Cumulative solar radiation comparative results on residential building roofs 181
6-24 Residential Unit Prototype with the use of Green house horticulture 184

Section in Residential Unit Prototype shows the integration of PV cells and Green 184
6-25
186
house horticulture 186
6-26 The Installation of PV cells panels and Annual values 187
6-27 Residential building extension modification 187
6-28 Selected Sub-Neighborhood area for simulation 188
6-29 Defining Buildings and Materials in ENVI-met 189
6-30 Diffuse Solar radiation analysis 189
6-31 Mean Radiant Temperature analysis 190
6-32 Sky-View factor analysis 190
6-33 Wind Direction analysis

6-34 Wind Speed analysis

No. List of Tables Page

1 Research Objectives 2
2 Research Methodology 3
1-1 Classification of new cities in terms of sites and functions 14
2-1 Challenges to and opportunities for building sustainable cities 24
2-2 New Urbanism principles at Neighborhood level 27
2-3 TNDs, TODs, and Liveable Neighborhoods models 37
2-4 Advantages and disadvantages of Interconnected Neighborhood 39
2-5 Advantages and disadvantages of Neighborhood Cell Pattern 40
2-6 Advantages and disadvantages of Neighborhood Linear Pattern 41
2-7 Density, parking and site area for Churchill Gardens, London, England 42
2-8 Economic use floor area for Addison Circle, Addison, Texas, United States 43
2-9 Density, parking and site area - Greenwich Peninsula, London. England 43
2-10 Habitat sustainability analysis of a neighborhood 44
3-1 Worldwide Green Rating Systems 47
3-2 BREEAM Communities Categories 49
3-3 BREEEAM Rating Benchmarks 51
3-4 CASBEE for Urban Development Categories 53
3-5 DGNB Applications 54

vii

3-6 DGNB Performance Index 55
3-7 PEARL Community rating system Categories 58
3-8 PEARL rating levels 58
3-9 Living Community Challenge Categories 60
3-10 LEED ND 3 main environmental categories 61
3-11 LEED ND Certification levels 62
3-12 LEED ND Stages of Certification 64
3-13 Timeline and Project Design Phases for LEED ND 65
3-14 BREEAM for Communities Rating Categories 66
3-15 CASBEE for Urban Development Rating Categories 67
3-16 DGNB for New Urban Districts Rating Categories 79
3-17 PEARL Community Rating Categories 70
3-18 LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating Categories 71
3-19 Cascadia: the Living Community Challenge Rating Categories 72
3-20 Urban Pattern & Design Category in GPRS for Communities 73
4-1 Design alternative Case study - Vladinar New Town Charrette 81
4-2 Planning concept for urban structure - Case study North Wathba 84
4-3 Urban structure of North Wathba 85
4-4 Climatic design zones in Egypt 88
4-5 Uses percentages of Neighborhoods in New Cities in Egypt 90
4-6 Location of mixed use areas and neighborhood form 92
4-7 Net and Gross Density 94
4-8 Urban Patterns Analysis 99
4-9 Hierarchy of Facilities which can be reached at different distances 103
4-10 Catchment population for Public Transport 104
4-11 Street Types analysis 106
4-12 Design code for particular street character type in Upton, Northampton 107
4-13 Renewable Energy Sources, Applications and Conversions 110
4-14 Water types at Neighborhood Level 111
4-15 Two Main Approaches for Gray-Water Recycling 112
4-16 Main Methods of Control in SUDs 113
4-17 Autodesk Environmental analysis and modeling programs 119

Goals and sub-goals in order to achieve climate responsiveness and resource 149
5-1
158
efficiency for Hashtgerd New Town 165
5-2 Summary of Case Studies 166
6-1 Future activities and job opportunities at Study area 168
6-2 Comparative analysis of urban land use for 3 villages 169
6-3 Housing Types of Graduates' villages 171
6-4 Solar radiation analysis and Wind Rose of Current site using Revit/Vassari 172
6-5 Applied design criteria on the development scenarios 175
6-6 Development Scenario 1 methodology
6-7 Design alternative for residential blocks

viii

6-8 Quantitative measurements of the proposed upgrading of application model – 179
Scenario 1
180
6-9 Solar radiation Simulation for Sub-neighborhood alternatives 182
6-10 Wind Flow Simulation for Sub-neighborhood alternatives 183
6-11 Development Scenario 2 methodology 185
6-12 Resource management Study for developing Current urban context
6-13 Quantitative measurements of the proposed upgrading of application model – 191

Scenario 2

ix

Introductory
Section

Abstract

Introduction

Egypt population had increased more than five times from 11 to 60 million, during
the period 1907-1996. Recently in 2015, the population exceeds 90 million, which
means that this number will be doubled in few decades. Egyptian cities are
increasingly getting overwhelmed by social, economic, ecological, and cultural
problems which require new strategies and innovative polices to develop the existing
cities and to consider developing new cities in the unexploited desert.

A vision based on sustainability will help align and motivate communities,
governments, business, and others around a common purpose, and will identify a
basis for developing strategies, action programs, and processes to achieve this vision.

Urban development plans have to enhance the built environment in Egyptian
human settlements from regional plans of governorates, cities and villages to
upgrading plans of informal areas. Neighborhood as the planning unit of the city is
seen as the most important urban element that establishes the social and economic
sustainability of the area.

At urban neighborhood scale, the over-population and the related activities cause
intensive demands on the environment. However, this very concentration of people
and their activities offer opportunities, through design and actions at an urban scale,
to minimize the various environmental impacts - ideally to the point where they can
be assimilated by the ecosystems of the region
without lasting damage.

Sustainable neighborhood development has
to advocate environmentally responsible model
of neighborhoods, socially balanced population
with suitable opportunities for habitats’ income
and diversity of use with suitable energy and
mobility systems. Figure (1) shows the
interactive main pillars for sustainable
development.

Neighborhood design patterns and land use Figure : Interactive main Issues for Sustainable
create a particular physical and social reality Development, Source: (Hugh Barton and others, 2003)
that have a significant effect on the
environmental performance of a chosen place
and its surroundings and then promote the
quality of life in Egypt.

Research problem

At urban Neighborhood scale, the concentrations of people and their activities with
the absence of sustainable planning and management results in intensive demands and
impacts on the surrounding environment. Our life styles have become less healthy

since our cities act and are managed in unsustainable way and threatening the stability
of global ecology.

Current local initiatives to develop new settlements didn’t take into account the
design principles for making or upgrading efficient and sustainable urban fabric. The
absence of information and studies needed for development led to unsuccessful urban
development.

Other related problems could be the absence of government policies towards more
sustainable neighborhoods which should be seen as an essential part of the
government's sustainable development in addition to the absence of integrated and
coherent policy guidance because of the different perspectives of the different
stakeholders, including the local community themselves. Furthermore, the dearth of
local authority resources for local planning is considered one of the main issues.

The absence of community participation, education and awareness of the threats
and potentials of the Egyptian reality and its future led to unsuccessful urban
development in the last 50 years. Other reason could be the cultural shifting and the
lack of the integration of new technologies at different stages of planning and
implementation. New Technology applications should be improved to provide more
options to sustain the Egyptian cities.

Area of the Research

The research focuses on the physical urban fabric of neighborhoods. It discusses
the design elements including land use and mobility systems to develop a successful
design process for sustainable neighborhoods and how the physical environment can
enhance its quality of life and promotes social inclusion and the management of
national resources.

Aim of the Research

The research aims to develop environmentally responsible model of
neighborhoods. It could be achieved through sustainable planning process,
developing the mechanism of urban design elements and the resource management of
the physical environment in order to enhance quality of life and sustain natural
resources. It defines how neighborhoods could be and its context through integrating
the principals of sustainable development.

Objectives of the Research

The research objectives could be summarized as follow in table (1) referring to
thesis chapters.

Table 1: Research Objectives, Source: Researcher.

Objectives Chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 Discuss Egyptian reality and analyze existing planning approaches and
rating systems to define design criteria and elements for sustaining
neighborhoods

2 Identify design elements providing a set of criteria to enhance physical
urban context of neighborhoods.

3 Define a framework to organize the planning and design process focusing
on the urban structure phase for new urban extensions and renewal
strategies of existing urban areas

4 Emphasize the role of resource management and examine the
implementation of renewable energies (ex. solar energy) to develop self-
sufficient/productive housing units.

5 Examine the importance of the use of computational simulation in the
planning and design process to achieve high-performance buildings and
urban spaces.

6 Analyze best practices of the design elements through analytical study of
case studies.

7 Conduct an application and apply derived criteria and sustainable
techniques on an existing case study.

Research Methodology

The research is concerned with studying the Egyptian physical reality, urban
principals, planning and design process, design elements and sustainable approaches
and techniques at the urban scale. It draws out a set of criteria for designing new
sustainable neighborhoods for new urban extensions and renewal strategies. The
methodology of the research can be discussed through the following steps in table (2):

Table 2: Research Methodology, Source: Researcher.

Steps Relevant Aspects Goals Achieved Methods

Analytical Theoretical 1. Define urban  Increasing population 1 2 3 4  Quantitative and
development problems  Informal Settlement
and needs in Egypt  Energy problems qualitative data
 Poverty levels
2. Analyze urban  Criticisms of the new 567 collection
development experience
of new cities in Egypt cities 1 2 3 4  Data Collection
 Sixth of October city as  Observations
3. Define Contemporary  Survey
planning theories and a case study 567
approaches to identify
Theoretical neighborhoods role in  Sustainable Cities 1 2 3 4  Qualitative data
sustainable planning.  Urban Smart Growth
 New Urbanism collection
4. Define Neighborhoods  Urban Villages
as planning unit.  Intelligent Urbanism 567  Content analysis

Theoretical 5. Conclude design criteria  Neighborhood definition, 1 2 3 4  Qualitative data
and elements and the models, principals and
design process for new morphology collection
urban extensions and
renewal strategies.  Rating Systems Criteria 567  Content analysis
for Neighborhood
Analytical Development. 1 2 3 4  Quantitative and

 Design process and qualitative data
management flowchart
567 collection
 Design elements  Content analysis

 3 case studies are  Case study
analyzed to define the
Analytical 1 2 3 4 analysis
application of design
6. Analyzing Case Studies  Observations
and application. elements and simulation  Simulations

tools. 567  Interviews and
 Burullus Graduates
Questionnaire
villages case study.

Structure of the Thesis

According to the research methodology and beyond the introductory section, the
thesis has been organized into six chapters (figure 2):

Chapter 1, Egypt reality and potentials, this chapter shows challenges that face
the urban development in Egypt such as population growth, the increasing of informal
settlements and slums, energy crisis, resource consumption, environmental
degradation and poverty levels. It discusses the identification of these problems and
threats which have environmentally, socially and economically impacts on Egypt
future development and defines the potentials and chances to survive.

Chapter 2, Urban Planning Approaches, this chapter discuses urban planning
theories and approaches (such as sustainable cities, urban villages, New Urbanism,
Smart Growth, intelligent urbanism, etc) which appeared in the late twentieth-century
to enhance urban quality of life. It also define neighborhood as a planning unit for
towns with a study to its models, morphology and main principals.

Chapter 3, Assessment tools for Urban Planning, this chapter discuses major
sustainability rating systems that are related to sustainable neighborhood
development. Six rating systems are selected for review (BREEAM for Communities,
CASBEE for Urban Development, DGNB for New urban districts, ESTIDAMA, the
Living Community Challenge and LEED for Neighborhood Development). Rating
systems are discussed and analyzed in order to draw out the design elements and
design process for new urban extensions and renewal strategies.

Chapter 4, Planning Process and Design Elements, this chapter discuses planning
and design process to approach sustainable cities and neighborhoods. It focuses on
the urban structure step for understanding and shaping the spatial framework for new
urban extensions and renewal strategies of existing urban areas. Design elements for
sustainable neighborhood design are discussed and analyzed (natural systems, land
use systems, mobility systems and resource management including energy systems
and environmental management systems). It also discusses the importance of
computational simulation for urban and neighborhood analysis.

Chapter 5, Neighborhood Case Studies, this chapter discuss the design elements
which are analyzed in the previous chapter through 3 main case studies: Crystal City
Palace, Washington, USA - The Solar Settlement in Freiburg, Germany - Hashtgerd
new town, Tehran, Iran.

Chapter 6, Application, this chapter conducts a case study, applying design elements,
simulation analysis and sustainable techniques on one of the existing case study; it aims to
develop the 3 villages so that it could be regenerated into Sustainable Neighborhoods
optimizing urban parameters that would collectively promote high density urban
growth and maximize land efficiency.

Introductory Section

Chapter 1 Egypt Reality and  Urban Development threats.
Potentials  Egyptian experience in urban

Chapter 2 Urban Planning development.
Approaches  Urban Development Potential.

 Contemporary Planning Theories
and Approaches.

 Neighborhood Model.
 Neighborhood planning principals.

Chapter 3 Assessment tools for  Rating Systems Overview.
Urban Planning  Analysis of Rating Systems

Categories.

Chapter 4 Planning Process  Planning Process.
and Design  Design Elements.
Elements  Computational Simulation for Urban

and Neighborhood Analysis

Chapter 5 Neighborhood Case  Crystal City Palace, Washington,
Studies USA

Chapter 6 Application  The Solar Settlement in Freiburg,
Germany

 Hashtgerd new town, Tehran, Iran

 Define Site Context.
 General Urban Context

Development.
 Analysis of 3 Graduates' villages

land use.
 Building Forms and Capacity.
 Development strategies for proposed

Neighborhood.

 Development Scenario 1
 Development Scenario 2

Conclusion and Recommendations

Figure : Thesis Structure, Source: Researcher.

5

Chapter 1

Egypt Reality and
Potentials

 Urban Development threats.
 Egyptian experience in urban development.
 Urban Development Potential.

1 Egypt reality and potentials

Today’s Egypt faces many challenges for its urban development such as
population growth, the increasing of informal settlements and slums, energy crisis,
resource consumption, environmental degradation and poverty levels. This chapter
discusses the identification of these problems and threats which have
environmentally, socially and economically impacts on Egypt’s future development
and defines the potentials and chances to survive.

1.1 Urban Development Threats

Urban development in Egypt has different challenges that should be taken into
consideration (GOPP, 2014):
• Poverty (25% of the population below the poverty line)
• Illiteracy (30% of the total population)
• Unemployment (13% of the total labor force)
• Social disparities between regions in the income and standard of living and services.
• Scarcity of the traditional exhaustible resources (Ground water / oil / gas)
• Concentration of population in 5.7% of the total area
• Urban sprawl and the erosion of agricultural land (13 thousand acres per year from
1984 to 2007).

1.1.1 Population Growth

Population growth is among the driving forces causing problems in Egyptian
human settlements. The distribution of population is another reason, where the
majority of Egyptian live in the Nile Valley and Delta, which is about only five
percent of the gross area of the country. The population size of Egypt increased from
44.9 million in 1980 to approximately 78.1 million in 2010. It is projected that in
2050, the population size of Egypt will reach approximately 121.8 million
(worldometers, 2015). Figure (1-1) shows the historic and future population trends in
Egypt from 1990 to 2030.

The Egyptian population is concentrated on 6% of the Egyptian lands represented
in Delta region and the Nile valley. The concentrations of people and their activities
create intensified demands and great damage on the environment and physical
infrastructure.

Current facts about Egypt population (Nations, 2011):
 In July 2014, Egypt’s population is estimated at 83,386,739.
 Population growth rate 2010-2015 is about 1.6%.

 Egypt's population is equivalent to 1.15% of the total world population.
 In the list of countries, Egypt’s population ranks number 15.
 The population density in Egypt is about 83 people per Km2.
 Egypt’s population at urban areas is about 44% (36,713,659 people in

2014).
 The median age in Egypt is 25.5 years.
Figure (1-2) shows the map of population density and their concentrations on the
Egyptian lands especially in the Nile valley and Delta region, while other lands are
mostly vacant.

Figure 1-1: Historic and Future Population Trends in Egypt, 1990–2030, Source: UNdata, United Nations, 2009

Figure 1-2: Population density in Egypt, Source: (CIESIN, 2015)

1.1.2 Informal Settlements

One of the most urban problems in Egypt is the informal settlements or
“Ashwa’iyyat” which exist in both urban and rural areas. According to the World
Bank (2008) the population of the informal settlements are about 16-21 million
depending on the definition of informal areas. Accurate and consistent data and
information about informal areas in Egypt does not exist. Having accurate data is a
necessary to prepare effective plans, budgets, and policies and to improve the lives of
millions of residents in these areas. Figure (1-3) shows the formal and informal
settlements in the Governorates of Greater Cairo.

Informal settlements are defined as:

Informal settlements are defined as unplanned, improvised, spontaneous, irregular
or informal settlements; the terminology itself always contains a certain viewpoint:
the poverty of the inhabitants, the spatial and social marginalization, the market shift
character of the houses, the unplanned development, the deviation from existing
planning and building laws etc (Ribbeck, 2002).

The Informal Settlement

Development Facility (ISDF), since

its establishment on 2008, has made

a substantial change in the Egyptian

vocabulary by replacing the term
“Slums” or “Informal Settlements”
or “Ashwa’iyyat” by two distinctive
terms; “Unsafe Areas” and
“Unplanned areas”.

Unsafe areas are defined as life
threat, or having inappropriate
housing, or exposed to health threat
or tenure risks. Unplanned areas are
principally characterized by its non
compliance to planning and
building laws and regulations
(Khalifa, 2011).

Informal areas in Egypt don’t Figure 1-3: Governorates of Greater Cairo including formal and
host only the urban poor only. They informal settlements, Source: (GTZ, 2009)
also host the young, the middle
class, educated families, university
students, and public sector
employees in search of
accommodation at a reasonable
price.

9

Public housing projects have been insufficient to satisfy the increasing demand.
Since the 1970s, housing production has been concentrated in the so-called New
Towns, satellite settlements on desert land. The main objective is to divert urban
growth away from rich and scarce agricultural land. The main problems are their
distance from the core town and the lack of services and of economic opportunities
which made them unattractive (GTZ, 2009). The main slum types in Egypt can be
classified as following (Programme, 2003):

 Informal settlements on private, former agricultural lands (figure 1-4).
 Informal settlements on desert state lands.
 Deteriorated sections of the old city core.
 Deteriorated urban pockets.

Figure 1-4: Informal settlements on private, former agricultural lands, El Dakahilia Governorate,
Source: Researcher.

1.1.3 Energy demand
Although Egypt is considered as the largest non-OPEC oil producer in Africa and

the second-largest dry natural gas producer on the continent, it is the largest oil and
natural gas consumer in Africa. It consumes about 20% of total oil consumption and
more than 40% of total dry natural gas consumption in Africa in 2013. The main
reasons for oil and natural gas consumption are the rapid population growth,
industrial sector needs, economic growth, energy-intensive gas and oil extraction
projects, an increase in private and commercial vehicle sales, and energy subsidies.

Since the 2011 revolution, Egypt’s economy has not been fully recovered. The
government continues to fund energy subsidies, which cost the government $26
billion in 2012. Frequent blackouts in Egypt during the summer months are occurred
because of rising power demand, natural gas supply shortages, ageing infrastructure,
and inadequate generation and transmission capacity.

Natural gas and oil are considered as the primary fuels in Egypt. They are
estimated about 94% of the total energy consumption in 2013 as shown in figure (1-
5). Oil is mostly used in the transportation sector, while natural gas is used in the
power sector and transportation sector in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG)
in vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources don’t exceed 4% despite the existence of
renewable sources. The renewable energy sources which applied in Egypt are (EIA,
2014):

 Hydroelectricity: In 2012, 13.2 billion KWh of hydroelectricity are mostly
generated from the Aswan High Dam and the Aswan Reservoir Dams across the
Nile River.

 Solar energy: Egypt's first solar-thermal power plant was connected to the
national grid in June 2011, located in Kuraymat just south of Cairo and has the
capacity to generate 140 MW of solar-thermal energy.

 Wind energy: Egypt generates wind power mainly from the Zafarana and
Hurghada wind farms which are located on the western coast of the Gulf of Suez.
Plans are developed by the government to expand the capacity to 7.2 GW by
2020.

 Nuclear Power: It is proposed to build a nuclear power plant at El Dabaa on the
Mediterranean Coast. The project timelines have repeatedly been delayed.
Egypt’s civil nuclear program is still in the research and development phase.

Figure 1-5: Energy consumption in Egypt, by fuel, 2013
Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 2014

1.1.4 Poverty levels

Over the past two decades, poverty levels have raised steadily and now affect over
a quarter of the population. In the last 15 years, the national poverty rate - the
percentage of the total population who fall below the national poverty line- has
increased by nearly50% from 16.7% (9.9 million people) in1996 to 25.2% (21

million) in 2011 (CAPMAS, 2011).A further 23.7%of the population was just above
the poverty line, putting another 18.9 million people at risk of poverty (WFP, 2013).

Poverty impacts could be summarized as:
 Shortage of affordable housing has led to the formation of informal settlements,
 Rise in food prices is increased by16.3% between January 2010 and September

2013; this is having a serious impact on household consumption.
 Rising costs have affected the affordability of healthcare. The investment in

health is less than 5% of the total government budget.
 The quality of education, families have to pay for private lessons, which account

for 42% of household spending on education.
 Unemployment rate, one in three young people are unemployed, unemployment

among university graduates stands out as particularly high; in 2010 it was 18.9%
(CAPMAS, 2013).
The percentage of vulnerable households reports an increase from 78.9% in
September 2011 to 88.9% in March 2013 whose income does not cover their monthly
expenditures (EFO, 2013).
Rural Upper Egypt has the highest poverty rates in Egypt. The main reasons are
low educational attainment, low public investment in services such as education and
health result in low capacity to generate income as shown in figure (1-6).

Figure 1-6: Poverty headcount by governorate, 2008
Source: Laithy, based on 2008/9 CAPMAS

1.2 Egyptian experience in urban development

Egypt's rapidly increasing population has made the reclamation of vast areas of
desert land for agriculture use, create new industrial regions, build adequate services
and plants, create new job opportunities, and provide adequate food for emerging
communities.
1.2.1 Formation of new cities

The new town policy was launched in 1970s as an official recognition by the
Government of Egypt that the old inhabited areas along the Nile valley are no longer
able to accommodate the increasing population and that Egyptians have to exploit
their desert regions to achieve more sustainable development.

A development and construction map had been prepared for Egypt covering till
2017 including assignment of 24 new cities reflecting new urban communities aiming
to absorb 12 million people which is 50% of the expected annual increase till 2017
(Essam Al-Din, 2003).
1.2.2 Classification of new cities in Egypt

The formation of new cities has passed through 3 generation. Figure (1-7) shows
the map of Egypt with the location of the new cities.

Figure 1-7: The three generations of new towns map in Egypt
Source: (I.R. Hegazy and W.S. Moustafa, 2013)

Table (1-1) shows also the new cities classification in Egypt in terms of sites and
functions:

Table 1-1: Classification of new cities in terms of sites and functions
Source: derived from (Essam Al-Din, 2003).

Satellite cities Twin cities Independent cities

location Located around and close to Considered as an urban Should be distant from the
Cairo constructed as short and expansion into desert land, existing cities enough to
middle term objective of adjacent to the existing cities support their independency.
minimizing population density.

Economic base They do not have an economic They have their own They have their own
base, but they rather fully economic and service base; economic base that serve
depend on the mother city. closely connected with the its sustainability and
twin existing city. population growth.

Examples  15th May, 6th of October.  New Damietta.  10th of Ramadan, Sadat,
(first generation cities) (first generation cities) New Borg el A`rab and
Salhia cities.
 Badr and Obour cities.  New BeniSuef and New
(Second generation cities). Minia. (First generation cities)

(second generation cities)

 New Asuit, New Ekhmim,
and New Aswan.

(Third generation cities)

1.2.3 Current problems and criticisms of the new cities

Problems commonly identified with the new towns could be summarized as
follows (Essam Al-Din, 2003) (I.R. Hegazy and W.S. Moustafa, 2013):

 New towns have been developed through unsustainable typical processes. They
didn’t consider the location dynamics, target beneficiaries, the economic
underpinning of new towns, and effective market incentives.

 No sufficient studies are performed and lack of clarity about the constraints,
potentials, and opportunities of the environmental and physical characteristics of
the selected sites.

 The new towns depend on governmental investments and their continued
development will require even greater budgetary commitments.

 Many new towns, especially those with industrial areas, are experiencing severe
environmental problems.

 Most of the labor working in the industrial projects operating in the new cities
comes from other places. Movement rates of the means of transportation increase

causing an excessive energy consumption, and burden on traffic especially in
rush hours.
 Percentage of population attraction failed to attain the targeted numbers because
of high rent, inadequate payment installment, and difficulty to perform
commercial and public services as efficiently as needed and lack of economic
opportunities.
 All new cities are located inside 6% and adjacent to the populated Egyptian lands
leaving the rest 95% vacant areas without any developments.

The following charts in figure (1-8) show the current percentage of population and
the expected one to refer to the failure of attracting targeted population:

Figure 1-8: The current and expected population densities of new cities
Source: (Attia, 2014)

5

1.2.4 Case study: Sixth of October

Sixth of October city is selected to be discussed because of its tremendous scale
of investments, public and private, plus the city’s huge land resources, services and
strategic location within Greater Cairo. It was established by presidential decree
(504/1979). It is 17 Km far away from the pyramids area and 32 from Cairo
downtown.It is one of the first generation cities, The total area of the city is 119.2
thousand acres of which 61.5 thousand acres are an urban community with an
economic base depending on a large industrial zone to the west, a mix of public
housing and individual housing subdivisions to the east, and a central commercial
spine to interconnect the city (MSAD, 2015).

The city has many weakness points which affect the urban development of the
city. Some of these problems could be mentioned as follow (I.R. Hegazy and W.S.
Moustafa, 2013):
 No sustainable development strategies are occurred to develop Sixth of October.
 Instead of trying to develop the core areas, in the early 1990s authority officials

began to design vast new touristic zone areas with no logical sequencing of
development.
 According to the low population density comparing with the expected strategy as
shown in the first chart in figure (1-8), there are many empty lots, stalled
construction, huge empty concessions, and skeletal subdivisions and vacancies
are very high in many areas. Figure 1-9: The urban development of Sixth of
October city from 2003 -2014.
 Poor public transport services have for years been identified as one of the
obstacles to the development of Sixth of October.
 Internal network is characterized by huge distances within the city boundaries
and achieving different locations. Certainly those who live in the residential
compounds will own vehicles, but the same cannot be assumed for those of more
modest incomes.
 Residential subdivisions with individual plots in the 300– 500 m2 range
combined with allowed plot exploitation and building standards which are
extremely strict makes development of residential units expensive and difficult to
market.

Figure 1-9: The urban development of Sixth of October city from 2003 -2014

Source: (Attia, 2014)

Figure (1-10) shows Sixth of October map and urban land use (Residential areas -
services – industrial - tourism and recreation):

Figure 1-10: Map of Sixth of October city and its urban land use
Source: IDA 2012

1.3 Urban Development Potentials

General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP) and Ministry of Housing,
Utilities and Urban Communities are responsible for formulating public policy planning
and sustainable urban development. GOPP concerns with preparing plans and programs
for this development at the national, regional, governorate levels, then review and
approve urban plans at the local level in the framework of the objectives and policies of
national, regional and local planning and sustainable urban development.

It adopts the strategic planning method to formulate an integrated future vision for
development of Egyptian human settlements. It basically aims to achieve sustainable
development, reach a practical applicable strategy prepared by all concerned
organizations and stakeholders, guarantee benefiting from available natural resources
and determine the necessary funding resources for the implementation process (GOPP,
2014).

They developed 5 main plans:

 Strategic National plan for urban development (2052)
 Urban map of the Republic Governorates and Regions
 Regional Plans for Developing Governorates
 Strategic Development plan of the southern Egypt
 Extending Development to New Frontiers
 Strategic Plan of Greater Cairo Region

The Strategy proposed urgent programs of development to be achieved within 5
years

 Implementation of the development of Suez Canal axis (Phase 1) as an international
logistic center.

 Applied economic results emerged from scientific research in the fields of solar
energy and water desalination.

 Remove illiteracy in the age group that is targeted by the law.
 Improve the efficiency of technical education.
 Implement a program of housing for the resettlement of 10 million citizens.
 Completion of all unsafe slums.
 Increase Egypt's share of Nile water to 62 billion m3 through joint projects with

Nile Basin countries

The Strategic National plan for urban development 2052 which is shown in figure (1-
11) and figure (1-12) has 2 main phases:

Phase (A) the primary project of the national strategic plan 2052.

 Completion of the primary work plan of the project and Identifying priority areas of
strategic importance to start with.

 Initiating the accuracy and updating process of the primary project of the national
strategic plan in coordination with the concerned ministries.

Phase (B) Activation of the planned strategic orientations of the National Housing
Development (Alternatives for the re-division of the republic to regions and
governorates):

 Completion of the procedures of the presentation of the Ministry of Local
Development and propose necessary measures to alternative scenarios.

 Proposed financing: 1.5 million Egyptian pounds.

Figure 1-11: The Strategic National plan for urban Figure 1-12: Alternatives for the re-division of the republic to
development 2052. Source: (GOPP, 2014) the regions and governorates, Source: (GOPP, 2014)

GOPP worked on two major initiatives to promote the process of polarization
reversal by 2022: promoting development axes; and building new desert villages. The
first initiative aims to avail space for addition six million Egyptians in new cities. The
other initiative is to construct another 400 villages just outside the Nile Valley and Delta
to protect valuable and limited agricultural old lands, expanding the net area on which
Egyptians will live. The new villages are planned to be the residence of five million
Egyptians by 2022.

Accordingly, five axes for economic development were investigated during 2007-08
as Phase One of this program. These development regions are:

 The International Road,
Where the application case study is located, see chapter 6.

 North of the Nile Delta
 The Northwestern Coast
 Upper Egypt-Red Sea axis
 The Cairo-Ismailia Road
 The Cairo-Alexandria Road.

The second phase of the program will determine other development axes.

Many development scenarios are developed in parallel to settle the desert. Besides,
Egypt's rapidly increasing population has made the reclamation of vast areas of desert
land for homes, agriculture, and industry as necessity. Thus, desert development has
become a national goal dictated by population needs, future hopes, and a broader vision
for a better life (Sheta, 1998). The following demonstrates the proposed scenarios of
urban development in Egypt:

9

1. Rageh Scenarios (Egypt 2020)

“The scenario (figure 1-13) has a Figure 1-13: Rageh proposal Egypt 2020 developmental axes
holistic, national perspective through the Source: (Rageh, 2007).
Grid Developmental Form (GDF). The
GDF combines the targeted development
regions, segments, and poles of growth to
create—in alignment with the strategic
goals of the old valley— a holistic socio-
economic and environmental development
of future communities.

Yet, this scenario lacks the proper use
of new sustainable processes, social
engagement, utilization of new sustainable
technologies; while still built-up on
exploiting the exhausted infrastructure of
the old valley” (El-Sudany, 2009) (Rageh,
2007).

2. Farouk El-Baz Scenario (Development Corridor)

This scenario (figure 1-14) supposes
creating the Development Corridor parallel
to the Nile to mitigate the continued
overloads and intensive demands on the
old valley, the proposed project includes
the establishment of the following (El-Baz,
2007):

 The construction of a main
superhighway using the highest

international standards, 1,200 km in

length, from west of Alexandria to the

southern border of Egypt.

 Connecting the highway to high-
density population centers along the

way by twelve east-west branches,

with the total length of approximately Figure 1-14: Developmental Corridor, El-Baz scenario
800 km. Source: (El-Baz, 2007)
 A railroad for fast transport parallel to

the superhighway.

 A water pipeline from the Toshka

Canal to supply freshwater.

 An electricity line to supply energy during the early phases of development.

1.4 Conclusion

Building sustainable cities in developing countries like Egypt is associated with main
social, economic and environmental challenges. The development vision of Egypt
should be advanced and competitive, diversified economy based on knowledge and
advanced technology, social and spatial balanced society, better quality of life for
citizen and democratic atmosphere leading to accelerate the development.

More studies should be applied for achieving urban sustainability and the ways in
which a city is able to build sustainability will reflect its capacity to adapt.
Contemporary planning theories and approaches within the planning, environmental,
and development community will be studied trying to change the development occurs in
our cities to give sustainable communities.

Chapter 2

Urban Planning
Approaches

 Contemporary Planning Theories and
Approaches.

 Neighborhood Model.
 Neighborhood planning principals.

2 Urban Planning Approaches

After World War II, Urban planning is facing many problems such as high vehicle
miles of travel, insufficient level of services, diminished air quality, degraded sense of
place, segregation land uses, lack of critical population mass made for security
concerns, and other none urban features problems (El-Ariane, 2012). At late twentieth-
century, urban planning theories and approaches (such as sustainable cities, urban
villages, New Urbanism, Smart Growth, intelligent urbanism, etc) appeared to enhance
urban quality of life. Neighborhood as a planning unit for towns is studied as the basis
for the human habitat.

2.1 Contemporary Planning Theories and Approaches

2.1.1 Sustainable Cities

Cities and towns have become the primary human living space. Since 2007, more
than 50% of the world’s population has been living in urban areas. This percentage is
estimated to exceed 70 % by 2050. Transformation of humans’ economic base and
social structure comparing with rural areas is considered as the main reason for this
(United Nations, 2013).

Sustainability of cities should ensure the integration of social, economic,
environmental and urban governance as four pillars for sustainability. Figure (2-1)
presents the four pillars for achieving urban sustainability and sub-categories which
affect making and managing sustainable cities. The sustainability of a city should reflect
its capacity to adapt, within the context of its particular history, to the policy priorities
and goals defined by each pillar.

Figure 2-1: Pillars for achieving sustainability of cities
Source: UN/DESA, Development Policy and Analysis Division.

Building sustainable cities in developing countries like Egypt is associated with main
social, economic and environmental challenges, Table (2-1) discusses the most
significant challenges and the opportunities related to the main urban trends facing
developing countries (United Nations, 2013).

Table 2-1: Challenges to and opportunities for building sustainable cities, Source: UN/DESA, Development Policy and
Analysis Division.

Main urban trends Challenges opportunities

By 2025, urban population Improve access to housing, water, Investment in public infrastructure (including
will live mainly in small sanitation; improve public transportation); construction of compact
cities (42 per cent) and infrastructure; foster institutional buildings in middle-income countries;
medium-sized cities (24 capacity. strengthen links between cities and rural
per cent) areas.

Social Number of urban people Reduce number of urban poor and Investment in universal access to affordable
living in slums continues disease risk; improve social water and sanitation; establishing public
to grow cohesion; reduce youth transportation, and creation of jobs to reduce
unemployment growth of slums; employment of the “youth”
dividend in low-income countries

Inefficient use of public Improve waste and recycling Subsidies to households and small firms to
services (water, electricity) management; support reduce non-saving water systems and waste;
consumption of local produce; incentives to local communities to improve
change overconsumption patterns recycling systems.
of high-income households

Ageing Create productive employment Investment in universal pensions; extension
for older persons of working age; support for family networks.

Economic Inequality and financial Create policy space for inclusive Investment in green industry, adaptation to
fragility development; reduce climate change, structural economic change
Food insecurity underemployment; promote (industrial and service leapfrogging for least
economic diversification developed countries); strengthening regional
Energy access cooperation

Climate change Improve access to food; increase Investment in urban agriculture, local crops,

productivity storage facilities; R&D

Environmental Provide access to clean energy Investment in capacity development, energy-
and reduce use of “dirty” energy saving devices, production and use of
in poor households (e.g., least renewable sources of energy; subsidies and
developed countries); discourage incentives for efficient energy use and water
high-energy consumption in high use for middle- and high-income households
income households

Reduce impact on livelihoods; Investment in health and education
reduce carbon emissions; generate infrastructures and facilities; adaptation and
financial resources for adaptation mitigation technology, early warning
systems, green public transportation;
strengthen regional cooperation for green
technology transfer

2.1.2 Urban Smart Growth

Smart Growth is an approach within the planning, environmental, and development
community trying to change the development occurs in our cities to give sustainable
communities, with more choices and personal freedom, good return on
public investment and thriving natural environment. The effort is launched by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in 1996 led by organizations such as the Smart
Growth Network, a partnership of federal, state and local governments with such diverse
groups as developers, environmentalists, historic preservation advocates, various
professional organizations, and diverse interests in the real estate industry.

The smart growth principles (figure 2-2) could be summarizes as follow (Maryland
Dept. of Planning, 2015):

Mix Advantage of Range of Create Attractive
Land Uses Compact Housing walkable Communities
Building Opportunities Neighborhood with a Strong
Design and Choices Sense of Place

Preserve Open Direct Variety of Development Community
Space and Development Transportation Decisions and
Critical
Towards Choices Predictable, Stakeholder
Environmental Existing Fair and Cost Collaboration
Areas Communities
Effective

Figure 2-2: Smart growth Principals

1. Mix Land Uses:
Mixed land use provides a more diverse with mixture of homes, retail, business, and
recreational opportunities. It enhances the vitality and perceives the security of an area.
It increases economic activity and raise property values as commercial areas are close to
residential areas. It attracts pedestrians and helps revitalize community life by making
streets, public spaces and pedestrian-oriented retail become places where people meet.

2. Take Advantage of Compact Building Design:
Incorporate more well-designed compact neighborhoods as an alternative to
conventional, environmentally unsustainable and land consumptive development.
Residents can choose to live, work, shop and play in close proximity. People can easily
access daily activities, transit is viable, and local businesses are supported.

3. Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices:
Providing a wide range of housing choices suitable to all income levels and tenures
make the communities able to decrease the environmental costs of auto-dependent
development. It provides an efficient use of their infrastructure resources, services and
ensures a better jobs-housing balance.

5

4. Create Walkable Neighborhoods:
Pedestrian-friendly walkable communities offer great benefits to our health, the
environment, our finances, and our communities. Land use and community design
should encourage pedestrian environments by considering mixed-use development,
building compactly, ensuring safety and expanding transportation options for a range of
users; pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and drivers.

5. Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with a Strong Sense of Place:
Smart growth seeks to create interesting, unique communities that reflect the values
and cultures of the community. Communities and stakeholders should craft a vision and
set of standards for development and construction which respond to community values
of regional history, architectural quality, and distinctiveness.

6. Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental
Areas:

Preserving and enhancing open spaces provides significant environmental quality and
health benefits, supports local economies, safeguard critical environmental areas,
protects natural habitat for plant and animal communities, places of natural beauty, and
working lands by removing development pressure, improves quality of life, and
redirects new growth into existing communities.

7. Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Communities:
Direct development towards communities could be served by closer proximity of a
range of jobs and services, increased efficiency of already-developed land and
infrastructure in order to conserve open space, minimize development and community
costs, and preserve natural resources.

8. Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices:
Transportation planning should offer better coordinating land use and transportation,
increase the availability of high-quality transit service, create resiliency within their road
networks, create a variety of transportation options, ensure safety and provide
connectivity between pedestrian, bike, transit, and road facilities.

9. Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair and Cost Effective:
Development opportunities should be comprised by the private sector (investors,
bankers, developers, builders and others), since the development industry is highly
regulated, the value of property and the desirability of a place are affected by
government investment in infrastructure and government regulation, state and local
governments should provide smart growth leadership for the private sector.

10. Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration in Development
Decisions:

Community should be involved early and often in the planning process improves
public support for smart growth and often leads to innovative strategies. It develops an
inclusionary process and a common understanding among diverse stakeholders working
with local authorities.

2.1.3 New Urbanism

"New Urbanism became formally recognized in the early 1990s following the First
Congress for the New Urbanism that was held in 1993 at Alexandria, Virginia. At this
meeting key American practitioners came together to present and debate alternative and
considered solutions to current models of suburban sprawl that were seen clearly as
unsustainable in terms of future urban growth patterns" (Neal, 2003).

Principles are set out within the Charter of the New Urbanism defines urbanism by
its diversity, pedestrian scale, public space and structure. These principles are classified
on the basis of three main levels; each level has 9 principals (CNU, 2014):

 The region: metropolis, city, and town.
 The neighborhood, the district, and the corridor, see table (2-2).
 The block, the street, and the building.

Table 2-2: New Urbanism principles at Neighborhood level, Source: Charter of the New Urbanism.

The neighborhood, the district, and the corridor.

The neighborhood, the district, and the corridor are the essential elements of development

1 and redevelopment in the metropolis. They form identifiable areas that encourage citizens to

take responsibility for their maintenance and evolution.

Neighborhoods should be compact, pedestrian friendly, and mixed-use. Districts generally

2 emphasize a special single use, and should follow the principles of neighborhood design

when possible. Corridors are regional connectors of neighborhoods and districts; they range
from boulevards and rail lines to rivers and parkways.

Many activities of daily living should occur within walking distance. Interconnected

3 networks of streets should be designed to encourage walking, reduce the number and length

of automobile trips, and conserve energy.

4 Within neighborhoods, a broad range of housing types and price levels can bring people of

diverse ages, races, and incomes into daily interaction.

5 Transit corridors, when properly planned and coordinated, can help organize metropolitan

structure and revitalize urban centers.

6 Appropriate building densities and land uses should be within walking distance of transit

stops, permitting public transit to become a viable alternative to the automobile.

Concentrations of civic, institutional, and commercial activity should be embedded in

7 neighborhoods and districts, not isolated in remote, single-use complexes. Schools should be

sized and located to enable children to walk or bicycle to them.

The economic health and harmonious evolution of neighborhoods, districts, and corridors

8 can be improved through graphic urban design codes that serve as predictable guides for

change.

9 A range of parks should be distributed within neighborhoods. Conservation areas and open

lands should be used to define and connect different neighborhoods and districts.

2.1.4 Urban Villages

In the late 1980s the concept of the urban village was developed in Britain as an
important and viable approach to creating successful and long-lasting neighborhoods.
The question is "How can you have a place that feels like a village and a big city at the
same time?" asks David Sucher (Neal, 2003).village qualities—security, sociability and

economic purpose—still provide many of the essential ingredients found within our
successful, and much loved neighborhoods.

Urban village are considered as
activity centers that provide pleasant
living, shopping, and working
environments. It also provides strong
pedestrian accessibility, well located
open spaces and an alternative, well
connected street system. It promotes a
balance of retail, office, residential
and public spaces (COB, 2014).They
are seen to provide an alternative to
recent patterns of urban development
in many cities, especially
decentralization and urban sprawl.

"Urban villages are often

criticized as unrealistic because they

ignore broader social and economic

realities. The ability to create self-

contained villages is questionable as

employment and activity patterns

continue to become more complex. Figure 2-3: Bulimba & Hawthorne urban village ,South-East
The viability of creating a variety of Queensland Australia, Source: Google Earth.

employment and activity within an area with a small population base is also

questionable" (El-Ariane, 2012).

Figure (2-3) shows Bulimba & Hawthorne urban village, South-East Queensland
Australia as a case study for urban villages. The Urban villages principals (figure 2-4)
could be summarizes as follow (COB, 2014):

Walkability Connectivity Mixed Use & Mixed Housing Quality
Diversity Architecture

& Urban
Design

Traditional Increased Smart Sustainability Quality of Life
Neighborhood Density
Transportation
Structure

Figure 2-4: Urban Village Principals

1. Walkability
Urban villages are within a comfortable walking distance to be10 minute walk a 10

minute walk of home and work or 900m across. Pedestrian friendly streets should be
designed to reduce car dependency, encourage walking and cycling.

2. Connectivity
Street networks should provide interconnected street grid network, linkages to the

central public spaces and a hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards and alleys. High
quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable.

3. Mixed Use & Diversity
There should be mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within

buildings. Diversity of services, recreational activities, housing types and shops and
diversity of people; ages, income levels, cultures and lifestyles will improve the urban
quality of life.

4. Mixed Housing
Provide a wide range of housing types and sizes, suitable to of all income levels such

as single family detached and attached, multi-family, upper floor rentals, over retail,
condominiums and cottages.

5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design
Emphasis human scale and comfort, attractive surroundings, beauty, aesthetics and

create a sense of place. Civic uses and sites should be placed in special places within the
community.

6. Traditional Neighborhood Structure
Urban villages should have an apparent center and edge and provide quality public

realms and remarkable public spaces at center which should be designed as civic art
contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk.

7. Increased Density
Promote high density urban growth, support a range of community facilities and

maximize land efficiency. More buildings, shops, and services should be closer
together.

8. Smart Transportation
Connect cities, towns, and neighborhoods together with high-quality public transit

network. Create a variety of transportation options as well as encourage a greater use of
bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation.

9. Sustainability
Reduce unsustainable ways and environmental impact of development and its

operations with the respect of ecology and the value of natural systems. Efficient use of
energy, eco-friendly technologies, public infrastructure and services are vital. Minimize
car dependency by more walking, less driving.

10. Quality of Life
Taken together, these principles promotes productivity, Efficient use of

infrastructures, equity and environmental sustainability which provides a high quality of
life and well worth living and create places that enrich, uplift and inspire the human
spirit and prosperity.

9

2.1.5 Intelligent Urbanism

The approach of Intelligent Urbanism is initially developed by Team Ten and the
‘Congresses International Architectura Modern’ (CIAM) during the 1960s. Christopher
Benninger is the most prominent practitioner of the movement. Ten axioms of design
principles have been formulated as shown in figure (2-5). These principals focus on
integration of different urban and management issues and cover wide range of
environmental issues from building technology to management ideals, social ideals,
preservation theories and urban zoning strategies and clearly include in this way the
spatial and compositional dimension. (N.Fleurke, 2009), (El-Ariane, 2012):

A balance A balance Appropriate Conviviality Efficiency

with nature with tradition technology

Human scale Opportunity Regional Balanced Institutional
matrix integration movement integrity

Figure 2-5: Principals of Intelligent Urbanism

1. A balance with nature
This principle is defined to protect and conserve elements of the ecology that

preserve the environment. It emphasizes the distinction between utilizing resources and
exploiting them. It defines a level of human habitation intensity and the consumption of
resources and their replacement through natural cycles to create environmental
equilibrium. It promotes life cycle building energy consumption and pollutant emission
analysis.

2. A balance with tradition
Planning decisions should protect and conserve generic components and elements of

the urban pattern. Intelligent Urbanism calls for respect for the cultural heritage of a
place, traditional practices, architectural styles, symbols and signs that transfer
meanings through decoration and motifs. It respects the order developed within building
systems through years of adaptation to climate, social circumstances, and available
materials and technology.

3. Appropriate technology
This principle emphasizes the employment of building materials, construction

techniques, infrastructural systems and project management which are consistent with
local contexts, people’s capacities, geo-climatic conditions, local resources, and suitable
capital investments.

4. Conviviality
Vibrant societies should be interactive, socially engaging and offer numerous

opportunities for gathering and meeting of people. The principal promotes the creation
and enhancement of spaces where society operates within hierarchies of social relations.

The hierarchies can be described as a system of social tiers, each tier have a
corresponding physical place in the urban structure : a place for the individual, a place

for friendship, a place for householders, a place for the neighborhood, a place for
communities and a place for the city domain.

It also defines cyberspace as a macro tier of conviviality, but does not discount
physical places in forging relationships due to the Internet.

5. Efficiency
A balance between performance and consumption should be achieved. The principle

promotes a balance between the consumption of resources such as energy, time and
resources, with planned achievements in comfort, safety, security, access, tenure,
productivity and hygiene. It applies to public infrastructure, social facilities and public
services.

Compact communities and high-density offers more efficient urban systems and
deliver services at less cost per unit to each citizen where more people could share
gardens, shops and transit stops. It also offers shorter pipe lengths, wire lengths, cable
lengths and road lengths per capita. A major concern of Intelligent Urbanism is
transport; it promotes alternatives for transportation options providing affordable public
transport instead of the dependence on personal vehicles.

6. Human scale
Intelligent Urbanism promotes designs and plans that foster human scale

interaction, people friendly places and pedestrian walkways. The principal encourages
ground level and pedestrian oriented urban patterns which based on anthropometric
dimensions. Building masses, intermixing open spaces, using arcades and pavilions as
buffers to large masses, using anthropometric proportions and natural materials promote
human scale principal.

7. Opportunity matrix
Intelligent urbanism views the city as an opportunity system and processes. Yet these

opportunities are not equally distribute, it promotes the concept of equal access to
opportunities within the urban system. It promotes opportunities through access to
education, skill development ,basic health care, potable water, solid waste disposal,
hygiene, urban facilities like storm drainage, street lights, roads and footpaths,
recreation and entertainment ,transport, energy, communications, public
participation and debate, finance and investment mechanisms, Land and built-up space
where goods and services can be produced and economic infrastructure.

The principle defines an important role of the city which is to provide a variety of
paths and channels for each individual to set right their own future against the inequity
of their past or any special challenges. As there will be a variety of urban problems,
there must be a variety of opportunities to resolve each of these stresses so that the city
is truly functioning as an opportunity matrix.

8. Regional integration
Regional Integration defines the city as an organic part of a larger environmental,

economic, social and cultural geographic system that is essential for its future
sustainability. It sees the planning of the city and its hinterland as a single holistic
process. For example natural systems like watersheds or subterranean aquifer systems
should be operated across the entire region. Economic infrastructure, such as roads,

hydro basins, irrigation channels, water reservoirs and related distribution networks
usually follow the terrain of the regional geography.

The region may be defined as the catchment area from which people choose to visit
one city, as opposed to another or travel into the city on a daily basis or for retail
shopping and entertainment. Economically the city region may include the hinterland
that depends on its wholesale markets, banking facilities, transport hubs and information
exchanges. The region needing integration may be seen as the zone from which
perishable foods, firewood and building materials supply the city.
9. Balanced movement

A balance between appropriate modes of movement is proposed and advocates
integrated transport systems composed of walkways, cycle paths, bus lanes, light rail
corridors, under-ground metros and automobile channels.

Modal split points are considered as places of urban conviviality and access to
services and facilities, they can be between walking, cycling, driving, and mass transit.
These points could be classified into; more capital intensive transport systems with high
density nodes and hubs around which cluster high density, pedestrian and mixed,
smaller, yet dense urban nodes as micro-zones of medium level density, public
amenities and pedestrian access and the lower level of nodal split such as between bus
loops and cycle tracts.
10. Institutional integrity

Intelligent Urbanism proposes that the city and its surrounding region be regulated by
a structure plan, or equivalent mechanism, which acts as a legal instrument to guide the
growth and development of the city. It recognizes that good practices inherent in these
principles can only be realized through the emplacement of accountable, transparent,
competent and participatory local governance. The processes must include a
participatory planning involving a range of stakeholders.

Figure (2-6) shows a map for Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan which is considered as
a case study for Intelligent Urbanism.

Figure 2-6: Thimphu, Bhutan, Intelligent Urbanism Case Study, Source: (Geleynorbu, 2012)

2.2 Neighborhood Model

The character of sustainable neighborhood, including its streets, green buildings,
workplaces, shops and public spaces, that encourages physical activities is beneficial to
the community and the individual as well as the environment and affects the quality of
life. In supporting sustainable neighborhoods, the principles of the previous urban
approaches and theories seek to (UN-Habitat, 2014):

 Promote high density urban growth and alleviate urban sprawl.
 Promote sustainable, diversified, socially equal and thriving communities in

economically viable ways.
 Maximize land efficiency and optimize use of land.
 Provide interconnected network of streets to offer safety, efficiency and pleasant

walking, cycling and driving and to reduce car dependency.
 Foster local employment, local production and local consumption.
 Offer a variety of lot sizes and housing types providing diverse housing needs of

the community, at densities in compatible with the provision of local services.
 Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration in Development Decisions.

2.2.1 Neighborhood definition

A neighborhood can be defined as the planning unit of a town. It is seen as the most
important urban element that establishes the social and economic sustainability of the
area. The charter of the Congress for the New Urbanism characterizes this unit as
"compact, pedestrian-friendly, and mixed-use", it defines neighborhoods as the basis for
the human habitat.

By itself the neighborhood is a village, but combined with other neighborhoods it
becomes a town or a city. It was modeled on an idealized traditional rural community. It
has been possible to observe that the neighborhood has been an empirical component of
villages, towns and cities from time immemorial.

Christopher Alexander suggests, the pattern of the neighborhood fulfils the social
need to find "an identifiable spatial unit to belong to" (Neal, 2003).

Urban scholar Lewis Mumford noted that "neighborhoods, in some primitive,
inchoate fashion exist wherever human beings congregate, in permanent family
dwellings; and many of the functions of the city tend to be distributed naturally—that is,
without any theoretical preoccupation or political direction—into neighborhoods."
(Mumford, 1954)

Urban neighborhoods have also been defined for the smallest units in a hierarchy of
local government and administration. Many local authorities have set up neighborhoods
offices to deliver some of their services, while the Police have established
‘Neighborhood Watch’ and ‘Home Beat’ policing (Donald Watson and others, 2003).

Neighborhoods also may be defined according to 5 aspects as it is no generally
accepted basis for defining neighborhoods:

 "Administratively: by ward or parish boundaries.
 Aesthetically: by distinctive character or age of development.
 Socially: by the perceptions of local residents.
 Functionally: by catchment areas for local services; and / or.
 Environmentally: as traffic- calmed areas where through traffic is excluded and

the quality / safety of the living environment is paramount. " (Hugh Barton and
others, 2003).
2.2.2 Neighborhood precedents
Since ancient times, cities around the world have been spatially divided into districts
or neighborhoods. Excavations of some of the earliest cities reveal evidence of social
neighborhoods.
An early rationalization of the neighborhood can be attributed to Raymond Unwin
and Ebenezer Howard’s lead architect of the garden city movement in 1898, the Garden
city model is illustrated in figure (2-7).
The main features of Howard’s scheme were: (1) the purchase of a large area of
agricultural land within a ring fence; (2) the planning of a compact town surrounded by
a wide rural belt; (3) the accommodation of residents, industry, and agriculture within
the town; (4) the limitation of the extent of the town and prevention of encroachment
upon the rural belt; and (5) the natural rise in land values to be used for the town’s own
general welfare (britannica, 2012).

Figure 2-7: The Garden City, Source: (Oliviapress, 2014)

Unwin’s Town Planning in Practice, published in 1909, remains one of the most
useful manuals. Almost a century has passed since it was first published, yet it still
provides a comprehensive response to the requisites of urban design; its techniques
optimize urban density and financial return without neglecting function and livability.
Since the 1980s there has been a marked renaissance of Unwin’s practices in urban
planning, lead by the New Urbanism and smart growth movements in the United States
and by the Urban Villages and English Partnerships campaigns in Great Britain.

The current theoretical framework that reestablishes this approach to urban planning
is underpinned by the writings of Leon Krier who refocused attention on the role of the
urban quarter, or neighborhood, as the fundamental urban component and the work of
Christopher Alexander who produced an influential series of manuals, including "A
Pattern Language" (Neal, 2003).

“The idea of neighborhood became embedded in the post-war planning system by its
inclusion in the Abercrombie plan for London (1943) and the Dudley report on housing
standards (1944). These reports envisaged that new neighborhoods would house 6000–
10 000 people; they should have their own centre with a school, shops and public
buildings; they should be defined by perimeter roads or open spaces; and they should be
highly pedestrianised with key facilities within walking distance of every home” (Donald
Watson and others, 2003)

Despite its prevalence in the planning of new urban development there was no
recognition of its relevance to existing cities which were considered to be largely
undifferentiated socially and physically.

2.2.3 Neighborhood models

The ideal for these neighborhoods is that they are compact, pedestrian-friendly and
diverse in terms of function and tenure. These principles were summarized by the New
York planner Clarence Perry in his influential diagram of 1929, conceptualized as the
Neighborhood Unit as shown in figure (2-8).

He outlined a neighborhood center surrounded by civic uses, parks, residential uses, a
school, and retail at the edge. He based the numerical size of the neighborhood on the
number of families required to support a primary school and established the spatial size
by the five minute walking circle of a quarter-mile radius drawn over his diagrammatic
plan.

Perry provided six principles for the neighborhood unit:
 The population needed for one elementary school should determine the size of a

residential neighborhood (about 750–1,500 families on 60–120 hectares);
 Wide arterial roads that eliminate through traffic to the neighborhood should form

a boundary to the neighborhood.
 There should be a hierarchy of streets within the neighborhood, each designed to

minimum widths and set out to discourage through traffic and giving easy access
to shops and community center.

5