Place making as an Approach for Humanizing Historic Cities: Towards a Sustainable Urban Approach - Qubaa Avenue in Medina صناعة الأماكن كمنهج لأنسنه المدن التاريخية: نحو منهج عمراني مستدام - جادة قباء بالمدينة المنورة

Zaki Abdelnaby, Farag Mohamed

doi:10.21608/jesaun.2025.384211.1509

	Place making as an Approach for Humanizing Historic Cities: Towards a Sustainable Urban Approach - Qubaa Avenue in Medina صناعة الأماكن كمنهج لأنسنه المدن التاريخية: نحو منهج عمراني مستدام - جادة قباء بالمدينة المنورة
JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences
Article 17, Volume 54, Issue 1, January 2026, Pages 148-169 PDF (1.23 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.384211.1509
Author
Farag Mohamed Zaki Abdelnaby^*
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering - El Materiya, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Abstract: Placemaking is a contemporary concept and practice within the field of sustainable urban design, emerging prominently since the late 20th century. The roots of this concept are linked to the shortcomings and degradation caused by traditional urban renewal approaches, particularly those implemented in historic cities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In response, Saudi Vision 2030 seeks to revitalize existing cities within a sustainable urban development framework, in harmony with the heritage context of the place, and reinforces local visual and architectural identity, ultimately aiming to enhance quality of life through a comprehensive and coherent sustainable urban environment based on contemporary planning methodologies. The study aims to assess the extent to which the placemaking concept can be applied as both a planning and design methodology that contributes to the humanization of historic cities, while also promoting the optimal use of existing buildings and urban spaces. The research proposes an evaluation framework that includes a set of urban principles and criteria associated with placemaking, positioned as a sustainable urban development strategy capable of transforming historic cities into more humane and livable urban environments. Through the application of this methodology to a selected case study, the research hypothesizes that adopting contemporary approaches to urban planning, city development, and the principles of sustainable urban design can successfully regenerate historic cities. This regeneration process preserves their heritage, social, and cultural values, while also strengthening the relationship between human and place. The study follows a descriptive and analytical methodology to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. A standardized evaluation model is developed in the form of an analytical matrix or table, incorporating the key principles, criteria, and design factors associated with the humanization of historic urban environments. This model is applied specifically to the Quba Avenue Project, validating the framework through measurable results presented in the form of comparative bar charts, thus affirming the role of placemaking as an effective methodology for the humanization of historic cities. The study concludes by presenting actionable results and recommendations that can be applied to other comparable historic urban contexts. الملخص: تعد "صناعة الأماكن placemaking" مفهوم وممارسة حديثة في مجال التصميم العمراني المستدام منذ نهاية القرن العشرين، حيث ترجع جذور هذا المفهوم للتدهور الذي لحق بمشاريع التجديد العمراني بمنهجيتها التقليدية والتي تم تطبيقها في المدن التاريخية بالمملكة العربية السعودية، لذلك تسعى رؤية المملكة 2030 إلى تطوير المدن القائمة ضمن إطار عمراني مستدام، بما يتناغم مع الخصوصية التراثية للمكان ويعزز الهوية البصرية والمعمارية المحلية له، وصولاً إلى تحقيق جودة الحياة من خلال بيئة عمرانية مستدامة متكاملة ومتناغمة في إطار منهجي معاصر، ويهدف البحث إلى تقييم مدى تطبيق مفهوم صناعة الأماكن placemaking كمنهجية تخطيطية وتصميمية تساهم في أنسنة المدن التاريخية، مع تحقيق الاستخدام الأمثل للمباني والفراغات العمرانية في هذه المدن، ويقترح البحث نموذجاً للتقييم يتضمن مجموعة من المبادئ والمعايير العمرانية المرتبطة بصناعة الأماكن، كإستراتيجية تنمية حضرية مستدامة تسهم في تحويل المدن التاريخية إلى بيئات عمرانية أكثر إنسانية، وذلك من خلال تطبيق هذه المنهجية على حالة دراسية، حيث يفترض البحث أن تبني الأساليب المعاصرة في تخطيط وتطوير المدن وتطبيق مبادئ التصميم العمراني المستدام، يؤدي إلى إعادة إحياء المدن التاريخية بصورة تضمن الحفاظ على قيمها التراثية والاجتماعية والثقافية وتعزز العلاقة بين الإنسان والمكان، ولذا يتبع البحث المنهج الوصفي التحليلي لقياس وتقييم مدى تطبيق المنهجية المقترحة، من خلال تصميم نموذج معياري في صورة جدول تحليلي يشتمل على المبادئ والمعايير والعوامل التصميمية المرتبطة بأنسنة المدن التاريخية، وبتطبيق هذا النموذج على مشروع جادة قباء تم تأكيد صحة النموذج وتقديم نتائج الدراسة في صورة أعمدة بيانية للتأكيد على دور صناعة الأماكن placemaking كمنهجية لأنسنة المدن التاريخية وصولاً إلى نتائج وتوصيات يمكن تطبيقها على مناطق تاريخية مماثلة.
Keywords
Placemaking- humanizing cities; sustainable design- urban environment- quality of life- historic areas صناعة الأماكن - أنسنة المدن - التصميم المستدام - البيئة العمرانية - جودة الحياة، المناطق التاريخية

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