International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Spring 2015

This paper examines the structure and form of the Alley spaces in Kampala Central BusinessDistrict, with purpose to examine their uses, and the potential for urban renewal. The study employed multiplemethodological approaches and procedures including document review, case study approaches and analysis anddeduction of empirical findings, and explanation building. The study findings reveal that alleys in Kampala’s CBDare significant outdoor spaces of linear nature, each with a distinct identity with respect to location, size and qualityinitially designated for municipal service infrastructure but now taken over by the informal commercial enterprisethat sees value of these spaces and from them harnesses a means of survival, henceforth defining their character andquality. The paper concludes that the users most often focus on subspaces of activity concentrations without necessarilynoticing the configuration of the whole space. For effective urban renewal to take place and for the alley to performeffectively, it should be perceived not only as a space for movement but also a place of social interaction of a diverseurban population.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the bazaars and shopping centers as public spaces. Given theweakness of public places and consequently the weakness of social interactions, today’s societies are in dire need ofsocial spaces to increase social interactions. Therefore, the review of these two as then and now’s urban spaces couldhelp solve some problems. Bazaars are among the oldest Iranian urban spaces, which are deemed to be the palpitatingheart of the Iranian cities, playing different social, economic, and other roles. Shopping centers are adopted from the20th Century’s models and are considered as an appropriate alternative for Bazaars for the modern human of the 21stCentury. Descriptive-Analytical research method is of the case study model, and Space Syntax Software was usedfor collection of data by library method and analysis. The results show that shopping centers cannot be appropriatealternatives for Bazaars and can be considered as centers for meeting economic needs. Therefore, these centers couldnot be considered as appropriate collective spaces and as appropriate places for meeting social and recreational needs.

Malay home surroundings is varies in plants pattern as well as a variety of size. The plants speciescultivated own their particular reasons. Malay house environment is so harmony with humans, Mother Nature alsoculture relationship has visualise a unique environmental design. In this accomplishing research, it will provide anunderstanding of plants adoption of Malay house environment. Environment factor and socio-culture dominatesplanting pattern of Malay house environment. The cultivated plant species purpose is not only for beautifying theview only but also involve food, medicine, cosmetic, belief and also aesthetic values factor. This research use Paineand Taylor approach that emphasize four factors of nature, culture, view and meaning to obtain wider range of visionfrom informants in this field to provide a wider point of understanding in comprehending plants adoption pattern. Theenvironment of Malay society life is much near with Mother Nature has influence plants landscape pattern at theirhome yard/ lawn. The plants selection planted were much influenced with Malay society’s lifestyle.

Pedestrian areas are a type of urban public space, nowadays because of the serious consequencesof car-dependency and ignoring pedestrian needs, a consensus on the importance of walking and the necessity forplanning for pedestrians movement has been formed among urban designers, planners and people. The concernsabout human health and movement in city create a new trend in contemporary urbanism, entitled “pedestrianizationmovement”. So far, walking in the streets has been defined under the influence of cars and they have always been givena priority over pedestrians. As a result, cars gradually conquer urban spaces, retreat pedestrians from their essentialrights to use public spaces. If it is accepted that the quality of urban public areas has a considerable influence oncitizens’ everyday social activities, this influence can be seen much greater in car free zones than anywhere else in thecity. The main attention of the present study is enhancing social interactions in urban spaces, so the main purpose ofthe study is finding solutions and providing a model and design criteria to promote social interaction of citizens. Theresearch methodology is qualitative which is based on reviewing literature of pedestrian areas and social interactions.The case of study is Khajoo Neighborhood, one of the oldest and historical neighbors of Isfahan1. The result shows thatdesign of pedestrian zones invite people and residents to spend their time in urban space and have social interactions.

Urban landscapes form the main parts of the city. One of these spaces is urban streets, in whichsocial interactions and urban vitality reach its maximum quality and quantity. One of the principles and properties ofurban landscape design is its intelligibility. A viewer who takes a look at an intelligible city and knows it can attract newemotional manifestations of city without damaging its original image. Orientation is also very easy for the viewer andhe completely knows the environment he lives in. numerous characteristics influence the legibility of urban landscapes.The current research, which is a descriptive- analytic study, is designed to identify the factors influencing legibilityof urban landscape and citizen participation as the main bases of visual preference technique. First we begin withconcepts, ideas and attitudes of experts inside and outside the country about “landscape, legibility, urban streets” andidentification of visual preference technique by investigating some foreign examples is done by collecting principlesand characteristics to coordinate the components of city even more. Finally, considering the citizens (residents andnon-residents) participation based on surveys and evaluations that have always carried thoughts and ideas about theenvironment, it was clarified that in different age groups, no fear should be held for the development of this technique.However, considering the new ideas of citizens, criteria are proposed to create and reinforce legible landscapes for thestreets and urban landscapes.

Examining the planning of cemeteries in the urbanism system of Iran does not show a goodcondition. In fact, cemeteries in the most Persian cities have become large-scale open spaces outside the city. This couldcause irreparable damage to the cities because of the partial and/or improper use of the capacity of urban lands. Alongwith this, historical cemeteries within the cities have been abandoned. However, it seems that urban space with functionof the cemetery has a specific sociocultural potential. Cemeteries can be very effective elements in the symbolic networkof the city. As a result, it is also an essential element which must be associated with the structure and organisation of thecity and the neighbourhoods, not as a waste and marginal element. In addition, examining this symbolic space achievea symbolic dialogue which will result in exploring the beliefs, emotions, dreams, and imaginations of ancestors whichmeans these urban areas need a specific attention. This paper, by using descriptive-analytical research method, attemptsto explain sociocultural functions of cemeteries as an urban space, and to scrutinise its pathology through reviewing itsposition in the urban plans in Iran. In the following, via an emphasis on the sociocultural role of the cemetery, a seriesof strategies will be expressed for promoting its position within cities.

Housing can be considered as one of the most important needs of each family and the provision ofsuitable housing for people has always been considered as one of the indicators of progress in any country. Because ofthe specific attitude to the issue of housing in Iran, in other words, turning it into an investment, the major part of thehouseholds' income has been accounted for housing. Given the importance of the matter, housing in Iran is affected byfactors that often are considered as markers to assess the recession or boom in this sector. Among these factors, sociocultural,economic, and demographic indicators can be noted that play a very important role in the formation of housingpatterns and are considered a basis to assess mutual impressions of each of the above factors in this sector. This paperis aimed to examine how each of the economic, cultural, social, and demographic indicators has effect on the currenthousing situation in Iran. This paper attempts to analyze independent and interactive effects of each of the indicatorson the housing sector by the method of content analysis and library and then continues to find ways to improve what isseen in the housing typology. The results suggest that changes in cultural indicators have the most profound impact onhousing typology in long-term period, while changes in economic factors affecting the housing pattern is very transient,superficial, and short-term.

Squares as urban spaces are the arena for people formed by physical proportions and variety offunctions such as religious, commercial, cultural, etc. Shohada square as a focal point in Mashhad , is one of themain arteries of access to Holly shrine of Imam Reza and makes access to utilities and major axes . According tothe former urban pattern and its position in the traditional context of surrounding neighborhoods, access to the Holyshrine plays the memorial and historical role, that presents a very important position of the square. This paper clearlystates that Esfahan school characteristics such as unity, diversity and balance, are an appropriate pattern for designand evaluation of urban spaces that can be used for reconstruction of old squares on historical context. The resultsshowed that this pattern does not comply fully with Shohada square and modern architecture is visible in it. Also,serious damage has struck to the identity of the Shohada square by physical transformation with absolutely modernpattern after neglect of strong position of relation between Razavi shrine and Shohada square and religious traditionalcontext and history. Egregious physical duality of new