Abstract
This paper aims to offers an assessment of the current transformation process of Doha's historic centre, which has become a major focus of public development strategies. While the historic centre was neglected during most of the second half of the 20th century, recent public initiatives have been leading to new urban morphologies and typologies. In addition to the redevelopment of the historic market and the investments in museums, a large scale mixed use development, known as Msheireb project, has been launched, which will replace an entire district. The objective of this paper is therefore to clarify how these public initiatives are modifying existing urban structures and to which extent this spatial reconfiguration contributes to major revitalisation objectives, such as diversity, consolidation and identity. The methodologies include a GIS survey to analyse the shift in urban densities, land uses and typologies as well as a Space Syntax study assessing the various levels of spatial integration in the case of the Msheireb project.
Highlights
Various factors have changed the role of historic city centres in the Gulf region
While the modern urbanisation during the second half of the 20th century led to neglect and deteriorating centres, the significance of a city core was rediscovered in most Gulf cities at the end of the 1990s
The new tendency in public development strategies to revitalise and to upgrade historic city districts has been based on five major objectives
Summary
Various factors have changed the role of historic city centres in the Gulf region. While the modern urbanisation during the second half of the 20th century led to neglect and deteriorating centres, the significance of a city core was rediscovered in most Gulf cities at the end of the 1990s. The city centre was seen as main factor in developing a unique urban identity This objective gained importance due to the general vision of most rulers to transform their capitals into regional or even international tourism and investment hubs. Based on the high degree of spatial integration and accessibility old centres have been rediscovered as important business hubs and revitalisation strategies are seen as major factors in attracting private investors. Another objective of public investments in deteriorating areas is to prevent the increasing marginalisation of certain social groups. The last objective is rooted in the urgent need for increasing liveability and to create attractive surroundings in urban settings, for highly educated communities
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