The Compact city and urban image of the traditional city center

Abstract

The traditional city suffers from the decline of the urban image due to urban development and homogeneity with the urban context of the city, and because of the lack of determinants governing the urban image, it is that the center of the city of traditional Kadhimiya suffers from a break in the urban image, Therefore, the research included how to build a distinctive urban image of the center of the traditional city of Kadhimiya and achieve the visual pleasure and comfort of the recipient and the urban image here means is an image not picture which are related to several aspects, including physical, social and psychological as well as the collective memory of individuals and their relationship with their environment and a sense of them and thus, interacting with it. The indicators of the research were drawn from the theoretical framework which is measured by the questionnaire to be applied to the study area. The research found that the compact city’s characteristics (high density, mixed-use, accessibility, proximity, public transportation directly influence the formation of the urban image through diversity, complexity, variability, and diversity of housing options and urban activities as a result of their impact on (identity, meaning, structure). The most important conclusions and recommendations were that the cognitive process of the urban image is linked to the collective memory, social and cultural values, customs, traditions, attention to the surrounding area of the shrine and its rehabilitation to fit the urban context and achieve visual enrichment and reinforce the sense of belonging to the city by building the urban image.