COMMERCIAL STREETS: A FRAMEWORK FOR CREATING LIVABLE ENVIRONMENTS IN EGYPT

Abstract

The concept of livability has garnered significant attention and has become a focal point in the research and discussions among cities and governments. As the expansion and density of urban areas, the importance of livable streets as fundamental elements of urban design has grown. Livable streets play a crucial role in creating a dynamic and thriving urban environment, driving urban transformation towards improved quality of life and sustainability. One of Egypt’s most worked-on agendas is the development of the new improved street network, which has a direct effect on city residents, street users, and most importantly the country’s economy. The objective of this paper is to introduce a framework for contemporary and livable commercial streets that can serve as a blueprint for promoting sustainable urban transformation in Egypt. This framework involves the development of categories and indicators to evaluate the livability of streets in contemporary settings. These indicators provide valuable guidance for decision-makers during the planning and design phases. This research adopted a practical framework, a field survey, observations, evaluation, and a questionnaire, as its research methods. To assess the effectiveness of the street livability framework, it will be implemented and tested on two newly developed streets: Prince Mohammed bin Abdelaziz Street (Tahlia Street) in the Olaya District of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Dahshur Link Street in the Greater Cairo Region, Egypt. Through a comparative analysis of these locations, the study aims to derive meaningful conclusions and provide recommendations.

Keywords

• livable commercial streets
• quality of life
• urban design
• placemaking
• street livability index