The Future of Suburbia: Tracing Old Landscapes in New Developments. Do Compact Design Ideals Make Suburbs More Sustainable? (The Case of Abu Dhabi Neighbourhoods)

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects of human life and has had an impact on a wide range of disciplines, including urban planning and design. It is critical to design cities that can accommodate pandemic-control measures while also meeting people's daily needs, such as access to outdoor spaces for physical, social, and mental well-being. These post-pandemic city requirements have positioned suburbs as a more appealing and viable alternative to compact urban areas. The traditional suburban model of low-density, automobile-centric development with fragmented streets, on the other hand, is incapable of maintaining elevated levels of accessibility within neighborhoods. This study proposes an evidence-based alternative suburban design model for post-pandemic cities. Quantitative examinations of the case study of Abu Dhabi, along with illustrations of potential redesign options, show how suburbs can be made more accessible to pedestrian traffic. The study uses the Gravity metric to calculate accessibility at walkable radii of 400 and 800 meters. It applies design ideals from high-performing neighborhoods to redesign low-performing ones. The study’s findings apply beyond the local case studies and reveal that accessibility in suburban neighborhoods requires integrating several morphological attributes, including plot density, interconnected street networks, and strategically placed alleys.

Date of Award	Dec 2022
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Khaled AlAwadi (Supervisor)