ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

Diverse theoretical aspects were embedded in this study in order to understand theoretical explanations along with their practical implications. This research is comprehensive and

explanatory in nature, as its objective is to understand the context of public open spaces in the UAE within an international theoretical and empirical perspective. As stated in Chapter 1, this research assumes that planning and urban design can greatly contribute to the provision of good quality liveable public open squares. In this sense, Chapter 2, focused on theories, methodologies, concepts and the practicality of providing liveable public spaces discussed in Western literature. In order to understand the context of the case study, literature on the Middle East in general and the UAE more specifically was also reviewed. Evidence of Western hegemony was found in the concepts and processes that have provided the basis for the urban design of contemporary public open squares in the Middle East, as far as these have been documented (see Figure 5.1.).

The analytical framework developed in this section draws on the knowledge gained from the literature to identify concepts and criteria to be measured in the empirical work. This analytical framework is presented in graphical form in Figures 5.1 and 5.2.

Figure 5.1: Analytical framework: dimensions, concepts and evaluation criteria Source: (Researcher’s own)

The literature review on public open squares has shown that liveability is a composite phenomenon that includes different concepts and disciplines. Figure 5.1 is therefore structured around the three key dimensions of public open-space liveability identified in Chapter 2.

Figure 5.2: Analytical framework: relationship between research components Source: (Researcher’s own)

To evaluate liveability, the concepts derived from the literature were split into two: user requirements and the tangible quality of the built environment. Those two main categories are classified into sub-categories, which represent criteria that include a set of indicators used to analyse public squares and plazas in the UAE. These provide a basis for understanding the liveability of public open spaces and are used in the assessment of the case studies in this research, though not directly in the order presented here, as explained later in this chapter.

Figure 5.2 illustrates the components used to answer the research objectives and questions set out in Chapter 1. Three key areas were evaluated in the research process: the urban design (the product), perceptions of the users at large and the provisioning process. Chapters 6 and 7 have also been structured accordingly. Evaluation of each of these components involves considering a range of concepts and indicators across the three dimensions shown in Figure 5.1. The

components shown in Figure 5.1 do not map exactly onto the three research components shown in Figure 5.2. Rather, in some cases, a given indicator may be found in each component, but from a different perspective (e.g. planners’ perceptions, on-the-ground professional evaluation, and user perceptions), and, in other cases, a given indicator may be more relevant than another (e.g. partnerships may be a primary concern of the public square providers in the provisioning process, but the operation of the partnership may still affect the product and user perceptions).

Each of the following subsections provides a brief description of the key focus of each component shown in Figure 5.2.

5.2.1 Objective 1: Evaluating Planning and Urban Design in the Middle East

This section provides summary of what was found in the literature about open public squares in the Middle East (Figure 5.2). Two urban design approaches were highlighted:

• The old traditional urban design in the Islamic era which was controlled and developed by the rules of Islam and influenced by the culture of each group of people living in one community for serving their needs and customs (Hakim, 1986). Social life was a conservative environment that limited mixing of families. Public open spaces such as Sahat or Meydan were small pockets of spaces located between the houses and were not private places, but allowed for people to gather occasionally. Some spaces were small and semi-public used for limited activities and dwellers’ social meetings such as Finaa’. Large scale public squares such as Meydan or Sahat were used for celebrations, occasional market days and weddings (Germeraad, 1990).

• The modern urban design approach from the West during the colonial era was to organise the Middle Eastern cities in gridlines comprising straight lines roads and streets following the shape of land where open public spaces of different sizes were established at the junctions and intersections, such as public squares and plazas. Urban modernisation in many Middle-Eastern countries, in particularly UAE as part of the GCC countries, was accelerated after the discovery of oil in this region. Modernisation and globalisation of Middle-Eastern cities have deteriorated and weakened the traditional concept of urban design and have allowed almost universal implementation of the Western design concepts and greater provision of public squares (Al Abed, 2001). The researcher concludes that the Middle-Eastern literature concerning open public squares is not as rich and comprehensive as the Western, but there are similarities in the concepts of liveable public spaces.

5.2.2 Objective 2: Evaluating the Urban Design of Urban Squares

The literature review in Chapter 2 identified a wide range of concepts and indicators that must be considered when evaluating the quality of public open spaces in the built environment in order to assess liveability. Jacobs (1961), Newman (1973) and Carmona, et al. (2010) stressed the influence of built environment. Other researchers, including Gehl (2007, 2010; 2011), Jacobs (1961), Cooper-Marcus and Francis (1998) point out different concepts in urban design that can promote liveable public space. These include the location of the space, accessibility, availability, appearance, human scale, visual complexity, micro-climates, transitions, boundaries, subspace, size, circulation, pedestrian, seating, urban furniture, activities, age group and movement. These concepts and indicators range across all three dimensions shown in Figure 5.1.

Two key objects of study emerge from the wide-ranging literature referred to above: (1) the nature and characteristics of the place (or open public square in this case); and (2) human behaviour within the space being studied. Addressing this research component, therefore, entailed two modes of enquiry explained in the data collection methods section.

Application of open space evaluation tools, drawing on established methods that can be applied by professionals (or others), which cover a range of indicators mentioned above.

5.2.3 Objective 3: Evaluating Users’ Perceptions

Liveability is all about people being able to use space positively. Sets of concepts and indicators that may be used in the assessment of users’ needs when evaluating the liveability of public open spaces have been drawn from the literature review in Chapter 2. Criteria relate to how users perceive the quality of the built environment and how they perceive that it responds to their needs. This research views liveable public open spaces as a product of the planning and urban design processes. The success of any product must be evaluated on the basis of the opinion of those are targeted by design, in this case, the whole community. This analytical framework was designed to use criteria from the literature such as the quality of the space, pleasant appearance, hygiene, maintenance, communal activities, accessibility, users’ facilities and participation in planning in order to consider liveability from the users’ perspective. These concepts and indicators range across the three dimensions shown in Figure 5.1.

5.2.4 Objective 4: Evaluating the Provision Process

The provision process component in the analytical framework is concerned with how professionals evaluate the process of providing public open spaces. In Chapter 2, several theories relating to the influence of planning and urban design in providing liveable public open spaces were discussed (Albrechts & Balducci, 2013; Curry et al., 2010, cited in Illsley, Jackson, Curry & Rapaport, 2010; Gehl, 2010; Vigar, 2009). The review of the literature on Western and Middle Eastern countries identified a set of what are considered good urban design and planning principles in relation to public space provision. As explained in Chapter 2, liveable public open spaces are those that are well-used. Planning and urban design can influence this through appropriate consideration of the social, economic and environmental dimensions (Figure 5.3).

Figure 5.3: Relation between urban planning system and public open square Source: (Researcher’s own)

The planning system can, therefore, impact the liveability of public open spaces. The planning commission needs to comprehend the nature, importance and contribution of public open spaces to cities if these aspects are to be incorporated in policies and strategies for the provision of liveable public open spaces. The literature review in Chapter 2 provided an overview of an effective planning system has been developed in the West; for example, in the UK and the Netherlands. It is considered that for a planning system to be effective, it must have well-defined objectives set out in a hierarchy of plans–e.g. an overarching, national plan, local plans and development plans. Generally, overarching objectives will cascade down to plans at local level and development initiatives. In respect of the provision of liveable public open spaces, this should be a high-level objective. Figure 5.4 shows an example of a planning system (based on how it operates in the UK), which illustrates the various levels of the hierarchy of decision-making at which public open squares could be considered. As is explained in Chapter 4, the

planning system in the UAE is based on the UK system (hence the relevance of considering a system such as that shown in Figure 5.4), and has been in place for a relatively short time.

Figure 5.4: Proposed urban planning system Source: (Derived from UK urban planning system, 2006)

Evaluation of the process of providing liveable public open space in UAE has therefore involved two lines of enquiry:

1. Examination of the nature of the planning system in the UAE in practice, and of the extent to which it explicitly addresses the provision of liveable public open spaces, through desktop study as well as some input from interviews with professionals involved in the operation of the planning system.

2. Exploration of the perceptions of liveable public open spaces among the professionals involved in the operation of the planning system and in the planning and design of public open space. This exploration covered relevant planning process indicators that systematically connect and flow starting from urban planning policies set for developing management to enforcing design guidelines and codes that aid urban planners to include open public squares in master plans (Figure 5.4).

5.2.5 Objective 5: Evaluating Urban Design Policy and Regulations

This section presents the main component of the analytical framework proposed by the researcher (Figure 5.2). This component addresses the answer to the research question “what improvements can be made to the urban planning design and system to implement appropriate policy to develop urban public squares in the sustainable development in UAE?” Today, the urban planning design and the planning system must be linked with traditional concepts and, at the same time, use innovative modern urbanisation ideas from the West. The empirical work in this thesis presents key findings and recommendations that would enhance liveable public spaces by incorporating new planning principles and concepts. This chapter addresses modern planning principles together with the traditional planning principles such as social value, spaces with function and occasional market spaces for festivals which together form the core construct of liveable public squares. Moreover, the research addresses the contemporary urban planning principles introduced from the Western experience and presented in the urban planning guidelines. The researcher makes recommendations to enhance the sustainability of existing and future public open spaces in the cities of the UAE as follows:

• The authorities’ urban planning process and design system should be updated by involving community residents, users, and other stakeholders in planning and devising policies and should integrate their suggestions in the planning requirements and guidelines. This would allow for renewal in the formulation or reformulation of urban planning policies and design criteria to include urban public squares and open spaces in communities for the enhancement of social liveability.

• Public participation is to be considered under the patronage of the authorities and should be implemented in two ways: first, to involve people and community residents and users in decision-making related to the urban planning process, and secondly residents and community habitants should be trained and educated to raise and present issues connected with their places of residence and social environment.

• A planning system strategy should be introduced as guidance for urban planners, architects and developers that will assist in developing quality liveable public squares.

• In order to implement plans promptly, decisions must not be limited to senior level decision-makers and should be allowed to be taken at the lower, local levels.

• entertainment facilities with more activities should be provided to enhance the liveability of public open spaces and provide family-friendly gathering spaces.