Abstract |
This thesis studies the broad term of sustainability in general and the sustainable urban form in specific, in terms of the associated concepts and meaning, areas of application and the different methodologies to achieve a sustainable urban form.
The attempt to exactly determine what a sustainable urban form is and to identify the other concepts that is related with, where there is no cultural or economical or social discussion is lacking from employing such important term, as a way to add a legitimate flavor on the ideas associated in such discussions, specially the ones related to architecture which is the focus of our thesis. Whilst it is a bit hard to treat the concept of sustainability separate from other concepts such as concept of cultural and social identity, which is effectively feeding from all the other branches of science, cultures and arts.
The nature of those types of studies that substantially depend on interrelated concepts and theories are usually guided by different ideologies flavoured with variant personal opinions and interests, hence the resources from which this thesis relies on has been subjected to accurate scientific and methodological examination, besides to taking into account the different opinions that spoke about sustainable development, but according from an acceptable scientific and analytical perspective as well.
Some idioms that are frequently used in this thesis usually have two sides:
One is knowledge-based and the other is ideology-based, so in order to make it possible to exactly grasp a deep but definite understanding for the implication of this concept, this requires tackling these two different sides in a balanced way. The knowledge-based side can be reached throughout
encyclopedia research, while the ideological side may requires further effort and continuous research due to the large number of inaccurate uses and conclusions made by researchers in this area of science, and which are usually contradicting in many cases.
The thesis goes beyond the effort to present the three essential elements of sustainable development on the urban society level, or which usually called the sustainable urban development, the three elements are the economical dimension, the social dimension, and the environmental dimension. But also this thesis studies the cultural and social conventions and their role in forming the life style the society has, and besides to its reflections on the individuals in terms of what they desire to and how they can contribute to their societies in return. This raises an important inquiry about the mechanism through which sustainability may be achieved, and the responsibilities laying on societies to pertain this goal from one side, and how to implement such goal on the reality ground from the other side. In addition to the important consideration whether the calls of approaching a sustainable urban development form, and the references associated with it, are natural and direct results of the society needs itself and its natural trend to develop? Or whether they are just international policies? Or even they might be just theories posed on societies to achieve some goals and interests of the powerful countries.
As another issue, would it legitimate to conclude that the sustainability in its nature and goals can be described as a mechanism of a "living style" or at the end it is a product that can be promoted to any society regardless of its cultural and social references?
After the thesis concludes that sustainability as a term does not really has a specific definition where it maybe applicable anywhere any time. Thus it just lays down the proper description of a sustainable urban form and presents its essential elements that most researches agree on. Later on this thesis tends to analyze each element separately and study its dimensions and reflections on the architectural environment. These elements in specific are: Environment, energy, and the economical and cultural dimensions of the society.
In terms of energy, this study discusses the currently used energy resources and their negative effects on environment which in return leading to the need to replace such resources with clean and economical alternative energy resources. Thus the hypothesis of utilizing both the sun and wind energy as new resources while still considering the importance of the type and color of materials used in construction, which playing a great and essential role in conserving and saving energy.
As regard to environment, most researchers agree that the forms of
transportation and its means which are currently used are greatly contributing to the pollution of environment so again this leads to the need to search for alternative transportation means and techniques to minimize the reliance on car (in specific) for traveling within the city neighborhoods.
Analyzing the group of elements those contribute in achieving a sustainable urban form (which have been mentioned earlier), and then studying the inter-related relations between them all has led the thesis to process the proper sustainable urban form and ways to achieve it. Most researchers in this context support the idea of categorizing the sustainable urban form into two urban styles: the compact urban form, and the mixed-used urban form.
When analyzing both styles and studying some different examples embodying these two styles, the thesis concludes that the reality indicates that the sustainable urban form cannot be embodies in one style independently without the need to employ some elements of the other urban style with different percentages.
Finally, after laying down the criteria through which it is possible to categorize the urban form and judge whether it serves the goals of
sustainability or not, the thesis tends to apply the scientific methodology
based on such criteria to employ them in the study and analysis of the site of interest (Aqaba City) - which its organizational plan is has been prepared
and the final implementation would be in the year 2020 according to a supreme royal wish by the late King Hussein and has been supported by
King Abdullah the Second. This royal guidance requires the development of
Aqaba City basing on the concept and criteria of sustainability. Thus this
thesis proposes treating Aqaba City as a desired sustainable model in terms
of three different levels:
- Level One: Study and Analysis of the current social, economical and environmental situation of Aqaba city.
- Level Two: The future plan for Aqaba city in the year 2020.
- Level Three: A more specific consideration and treatment of the neighbourhood design and functionalities, mainly in respect to its social shape.
These three levels have been treated in terms of the main elements of sustainability, still while taking into account the touristic dimension of Aqaba city, and ending with proposing the sustainable urban form that fits the environmental, economical, and social situation in Aqaba city in general and neighbourhood design and form in specific. |
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