A dramatic morphological transformation from a spontaneous, organic street pattern to pre-planned-based order: learning from Baghdad city

Abstract

ABSTRACT A city can be characterised as a measurable pattern that comprises streets surrounded by block patterns. These street patterns are largely responsible for connectivity and accessibility, which enable people to move and interact. The study compares four samples in a case study in Baghdad, Iraq. The assets of Baghdad today belong to its historical period as its prevailing organic zigzagged network pattern determine its character. However, urban areas outside the historical zone are constructed according to modern schemes and a modernist ideology. This paper tests the connectivity and accessibility of the street network for four selected neighbourhoods. To achieve this, five indicators were applied, namely: intersection density Id, street density Sd, link to node ratio LNR, internal node connectivity INC and external point connectivity EPC. Following that, a correlation for each street parameter within the selected regions was analysed to identify the main characteristics of each variable in each area. Besides connectivity and accessibility, the paper’s aim is to characterise the historical neighbourhood of Baghdad by comparing it with other chosen areas. This study applies two stages to its case study; the first reviews traditional urban pattern and compares this to the other three examples. The second stage includes the selection of three different samples within the same city, where every sample has several common variables. Adopting a quantitative method, the outcomes revealed variation across the characteristics and parameters of the street pattern within the four chosen neighbourhoods. This finding offer a precise platform and key plan for future urban design strategies and planning methods. The research concluded that a greater understanding of street patterns and parameters could help to improve the built environment and the transformation processes of the urban form, particularly when considering walkability, connectivity, accessibility, and sustainability.