The Potential of Low-Rise Dense Typologies for Post-COVID-19 Urban Housing Spatial Planning: A Case Study of Nablus, Palestine
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Based on the global concern regarding human health in residential areas since 2020, this study delves into the potential of traditional low-rise dense typologies as a viable solution for post-COVID-19 housing spatial planning in Middle Eastern Mediterranean countries. Such typologies are found in the traditional architecture of Nablus City, Palestine. They are characterized by their horizontal stratification and distribution of courtyards through them, which offers a promising avenue for fair distribution of populations and avoiding crowded points in urban housing. The study seeks to elucidate the advantages, challenges, and applicability of low-rise dense typologies for future housing design in Palestine. It also aims to confirm their primary characteristics that can assist in limiting the spread of epidemics. Accordingly, the study analyses these typologies in Nablus City. It uses architectural analysis to verify its ability to enhance self-sufficiency, manage densities, facilitate isolation and quarantine, and encourage stay-at-home in residential areas. The survey results show that such typologies are characterized by mixed-use, activity-based densities and avoid crowding, support passive environmental systems, and facilitate flexible layouts for future design. The study also surveys expert opinions to confirm the research results and allocate factors such as spatial organization and community integration through empirical data collected in Nablus City. Accordingly, the study’s main finding is that low-rise dense typologies are a high-potential approach for future housing if designed in a contemporary way that preserves traditional values. Proposed guidelines for a modern architectural model are presented, which can be used in many similar urban environments.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All material is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) License, unless otherwise stated. As such, authors are free to share, copy, and redistribute the material in any medium or format. The authors must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. The authors may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. The authors may not use the material for commercial purposes. If the authors remix, transform, or build upon the material, they may not distribute the modified material, unless permission is obtained from JARS. Final, accepted versions of the paper may be posted on third party repositories, provided appropriate acknowledgement to the original source is clearly noted.
References
Abd-el-Aziz, N. M. (1979). An analytical study of traditional Arab domestic architecture [Doctoral dissertation,University of Newcastle Upon Tyne].
Allam, Z., Bibri, S. E., Chabaud, D., & Moreno, C. (2022).The ‘15-Minute City’concept can shape a net-zero urban future. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-5.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01145-0
Amad, E. M. (2003). Traditional concepts and new housing design in Palestine. Open House International, (The Architecture of Development), 28(3), 58- 67.
Amran, M., Makul, N., Fediuk, R., Borovkov, A., Ali, M., &Zeyad, A. M. (2022). A review on building design as a biomedical system for preventing COVID-19 Pandemic. Buildings, 12(5), 582.https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050582
Buheji, M., A., V. K., Eidan, S., Abdulkareem, T., Perepelkin,N., Mavric, B., & Das, R. (2020). Optimising pandemic response through self-sufficiency-a review paper.American Journal of Economics, 10(5), 277-283.https://doi.org/10.5923/j.economics.20201005.0
Carabantes, M. (2022). The Coronavirus as a revenge effect: The pandemic from the perspective of hilosophy of technique . Science, Technology, & Human Values,47(3), 544-567.https://doi.org/10.1177/01622439211008595
Chau, H. W., Gilzean, I., Jamei, E., Lesley, P., Preece, T., &Quirke, M. (2022). Comparative analysis of 20-Minute Neighbourhood policies and practices. Urban Planning,7(4 Healthy Cities: Effective Urban Planning Approaches to a Changing World), 13–24.https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v7i4.5668
D’alessandro, D., Gola, M., Appolloni, L., Dettori, M., Fara,G. M., Rebecchi, A., & Capolongo, S. (2020). COVID-19 and living space challenge. Well-being and public health recommendations for a healthy, safe, and sustainable housing. Acta Bio Medica, 91(9-S), 61–75.https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i9-S.10115
Doumani, B. (1995). Redescovering Palestine: Merchants and Peasents in Jabal Nablus, 1700-1900. University of California Press.
Golubchikov, Y. N. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic-milestone in rediscovering the rural life. Journal of Settlements & Spatial Planning, 12(1), 63.https://doi.org/10.24193/JSSP.2021.1.06
Gurushankara, H. P. (2021). Pandemics of the 21st century: Lessons and future perspectives. In Pandemic Outbreaks in the 21st Century (pp. 139-158). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85662-1.00011-2
Hunter, M. (2021). Resilience, fragility, and robustness: Cities and COVID-19. Urban Governance, 1(2), 115-125.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2021.11.004
Hussein, M. H., Barlet, A., & Semidor, C. (2010). Socio-environmental dimensions of private outdoor spaces in contemporary Palestinian housing. Open House International, 35(2), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-02-2010-B0009
Itma, M. (2016). Rethinking of housing settlements in Palestine, learning from mat building [Doctoral dissertation, Minho Universirty].
Itma, M. (2018). Impact of socio-cultural values on housing design in Palestine. In C. K. Hofbauer, & J. M.Meuwissen, Climate Change and Sustainable Heritage (pp. 130-142). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Itma, M., & Hussein, M. (2023). Housing demands in a complex economic situation: The case of the post-Covid-19 Pandemic in Palestine. Advances in Economics and Business, 11(1), 1-8.https://doi.org/10.13189/aeb.2023.110101.
Itma, M., & Monna, S. (2022a). Responsiveness and adaptability of housing spatial design to bew emerging functions: The case of COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Sustainable Development & Planning,17(7), 2173-2181. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.170717
Itma, M., & Monna, S. (2022b). The role of collective spaces in achieving social sustainability: A comparative approach to enhance urban design. Sustainability, 14(14),8756. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148756
Itma, M., & Monna, S. (2024). Sustainable housing design potentials in Palestine: A focus on the spontaneous urban design form. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 150(1), 04023050.https://doi.org/10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-45
Jasiński, A. (2020). Public space or safe space–remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technical Transactions,1,117.https://doi.org/10.37705/TechTrans/e2020020
Jevtic, M., Matkovic, V., Paut Kusturica, M., & Bouland, C.(2022). Build healthier: Post-COVID-19 urban requirements for healthy and sustainable living.Sustainability, 14(15), 9274.https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159274
Lai, S., Leone, F., & Zoppi, C. (2020). Covid-19 and spatial planning: a few issues concerning public policy.TeMA,(Special Issue: Covid-19 vs City-20), 231-246.https://hdl.handle.net/11584/291949
Lipinski, T., Ahmad, D., Serey, N., & Jouhara, H. (2020). Review of ventilation strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission in high occupancy buildings. International Journal of Thermofluids, 7(8), 100045.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2020.100045
Majewska, A., Denis, M., Jarecka-Bidzińska, E., Jaroszewicz, J., & Krupowicz, W. (2022). Pandemic possibilities of repairing Polish towns and cities during COVID-19 pandemic. Land Use Policy, 113, 105904.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105904
Martínez, L., & Short, J. R. (2021). The Pandemic City: Urban issues in the yime of COVID-19. Sustainability,13(6 Pandemic and the City: Urban Issues in the Context of COVID-19), 3295. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063295
Michael, D., & E., S. B. (2006). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Morawska, L., Tang, J. W., Bahnfleth, W., Bluyssen, P. M.,Boerstra, A., Buonanno, G., & Yao, M.(2020).Morawska,L., Tang, J. W., Bah How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised? Environment international, 142, 105832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105832
Nablus Municipality. (2002). Physical conditions of Nablus old city. Nablus municipality.
Nour, M. A.-e.-A. (1979). An analytical study of traditional Arab domestic architecture [Doctoral dissertation,University of Newcastle Upon Tyne].
Rapoport, A. (1969). House form and culture. Prentice- Hall, Engle wood cliffs.
Revault, F., Santelli, S., & Rochant, C. (1998).Naplouse:Larchitecture d’une ville. Consulat general de France&An-Najah N.U.
Salama, A. (2023). Coronavirus questions that will not go away: Interrogating urban and socio-spatial implications of COVID-19 measures. Emerald Open Research, 1(5).https://doi.org/10.1108/EOR-05-2023-0006
Shahbazian, D. (2021). Housing and urban design for COVID-19 pandemic; design for prevention of virus spread. Journal of Preventive Epidemiol, 6(1 e02), 1-5.https://doi.org/10.34172/jpe.2021.02
Sharifi, A., & Khavarian-Garmsir, A. R. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on cities and major lessons for urban planning, design, and management. Science of the total environment, 749, 142391.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142391
Song, X., Cao, M., Zhai, K., Gao, X., Wu, M., & Yang, T.(2021). The effects of spatial planning, well-being, and behavioural changes during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3, 686706.https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.686706
Soylu, G. T. (2022). Urban resilience of small towns during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Seferihisar-MS thesis. İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14365/277
Sun, C., & Zhai, Z. (2020). The efficacy of social distance and ventilation effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 transmission. Sustainable Cities and Society, 62, 102390.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102390
Tawayha, F. A., Braganca, L., & Mateus, R. (2019). Contribution of the vernacular architecture to the sustainability: A comparative study between the contemporary areas and the old quarter of a Mediterranean city. Sustainability, 11(3), 896. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030896
Tokazhanov, G., Tleuken, A., Guney, M., Turkyilmaz, A., &Karaca, F. (2020). How is COVID-19 experience transforming sustainability requirements of residential buildings? A review. Sustainability, 12(20),8732.https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208732
Trpeski, P., Šmelcerović, M., & Stojmenovic, G. (2021). The influence of the Corona virus pandemic on the State of the Environment and the Economy. KNOWLEDGE-International Journal, 46(1), 221-225.http://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/5387
Vogt, C. A., Kho, C., & Sia, A. (2017). Urban greening and its role in fostering human well-being. In P. J. Tan,Greening Cities. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements (pp. 95-111). Springer.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4113-6_5
Woltjer, J. (2014). A global review on peri-urban development and planning. Jurnal Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 25(1), 1-16. http://www.sappk.itb.ac.id/jpwk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1.-Johan-Woltjer.pdf
World Health Organization. (2021). Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19.https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/339857/9789240021280-eng.pdf
Zhipeng, W. A., & Wei, W. A. (2020). An empirical study on the impact of green spaces in residential areas on the mental health of residents under COVID-19. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 8(6), 46-59.https://doi.org/10.15302/J-LAF-0-020009
