Typological Index of GCC’s Public Housing Landscapes and Policies: In Search of Most Sustainable Urban Design Practices in Residential Neighbourhoods

Abstract

Superblock development has been remarkably effective in accommodating urban growth. Yet, the superblock approach to urban design is vulnerable to denunciation, excoriated by many urban critics due to their departure from the finer-grain urbanism. Despite being massively condemned, no study provided a scientific evidence-based finding to denounce its ineffectiveness. It is not evident how well-connected superblocks’ internal streets are and what their potential is for accommodating walking trips. This research assesses the connectivity efficiency of streets in four growing Gulf States: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait. Many Gulf cities managed their fast-paced growth using superblocks. The article analyzes samples (n=27) of different neighborhoods representing different planning ideologies and growth periods. Efficiency is quantified using Pedestrian Route Directness (PRD). Findings traced how the network connectivity in studied cities has changed during the different planning phases. While superblocks are perceived deterrents of prompting connectivity, results show that the superblock ideology could be efficient at local scales depending on its inner morphology. This paper provides a groundwork from which more questions addressing a larger scale can be pursued such as the ability of superblocks to address larger walking scales or regional integration.

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