Thesis project

A NEW SETTLEMENT FOR ALEPPO: TAL EL ZARAZEER POST-WAR CITY RECONSTRUCTION

AUIC - ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN SUPERVISOR: PROF. ADALBERTO DEL BO PHD STUDENT LILAS ABDULMAWLA STUDENTS: CHRISTINE ALHAJJ MOUSSA CHERINE TALGE 2019-2020 1

Ab s tr a c t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................ 04

Chapter 5: Master Pl a n Pr o po sa l ................................................................... 6 2

I ntr o d uc tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................ 06

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

5.4.

5.5.

C ha p te r 1 : Th e c i t y of A l e p p o ........................................................................ 08 1 .1 . Histor y o f Aleppo ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 8 1 .2 . Post Wa r Cit y: Aleppo ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8

34 35 36 36 38 39 40

62 66 68 72 76

Referenc es ................................................................................................. 8 2

C ha p te r 2 : M ac r o - A n a l y s i s of Al ep p o Gover nat e ( D at a Anal ysis).......................... 28 C ha p te r 3 : M i c r o - A n al y s i s ............................................................................ 33 3 .1 . In forma l Set t lement definiti on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .2 . Typological Diver sit y ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .3 . S ite Analysis: Ta l El Zar a z e e r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .3 .1. Hist or y ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .3 .2. Condit ions o f po vert y p ock e t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .3 .3. I ndica t or s of High De ns i t y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 .3 .4. M o r pho logy .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P la n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A x o n o m e tr y / Z o n in g. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

H o us in g U n its . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B uild in g s a x o n o met ry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S e c tio n s / 3 d V ie ws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CON TENTS

C ha p te r 4 : P l an n i n g & S t r a t eg y .....................................................................42 4 .1 . Th e or a t ical Co ncept ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .2 . Re fe rences fr o m t he Old Ci t y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .3 . C ase St udies .................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .4 . D iagr a ms ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .4 .1. Pr oject Co ncept ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .4 .2. Densit y ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .4 .3. Sust a ina bilit y ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .5 . Project St r at egy ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 .6 . Road ’s Sect io ns ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

42 43 49 50 50 52 54 58 60

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Abstract

I n t h e l a st e i g h t y e a r s, A l e p p o , t h e l a r ge s t c i t y i n S y r i a h a s be e n se ve r e l y da m a ge d d ue t o t h e S y r i a n ci vi l w a r t h a t st a r t e d i n 20 1 1 a n d y e t d i d n ' t e n d .

T h i s ci t y a n d o t h e r ci t i e s i n S y r i a a l s o a r e go i n g t h r o u g h ma n y t r a n sf o r ma t i o n s , wh i c h a r e s l o wl y i n cr e me n t i n g t h e pr o ce ss o f a r c h i t e c t ur a l a n d e c o n o mi ca l r e qu a l i f i ca t i o n o f t h e d i s t r i c t . T h e gl o b a l e n e r g y t r a n sf o r ma t i o n i s a l r e a d y h a p p e n i n g, s us t a i n a bl e a n d e co l o g i ca l e n v i r o n m e n t s a r e m a n d at o r y n o w a da y s i n e ve r y n e w s t e p t a k e n . Lo o k i n g t o t h e so u t h w e st o f A l e ppo w e c a n s p o t m a n y c h a o t i c l o t s r e f e r r i n g t o i n f o r ma l se t t l e m e n t s , wh i c h m e a n s i l l e g a l h o u se s e i t h e r n o t r e g i s t e r e d o r i s i n c o n t r a ve n t i o n o f t h e ma st e r-pl a n l a n d us e z o n i n g r e gu l a t i o n s o r dw e l l i n g s a r e co ns t r uc t e d i n c o n t r a v e nt i o n o f bu i l di n g st a n da r ds an d r e gul a t i o n s . O n e o f t h e se l o t s i s ca l l e d Ta l A l Za r a z e e r, a h i gh l y d a m a g e d n e i g h bo r h o o d e f f e ct e d b y t h e S y r i a n c i v i l wa r.

T h e n e i g h bo r h o o d i s n o t t o t a l l y d e m o l i s h e d b ut s e ve r e l y, w h e r e h a l f o f i t i s a l m o s t wi t h n o s t r uc t ur e a n d t h e o t h e r h a l f w i t h a s t a n d i n g s t r uc t ur e b ut ca n n o t be i n h a bi t e d.

T his the sis w ill fo cus on more than one topic: Fir s t, we w ill ne e d to solve the infor m al s e t tlem ent prob lem in order t o o r ga n i z e a n d fi n a l i z e a us e ful m a s t e r p l a n p r o p o s a l wh i c h un i fi e s gr e e n s p a c e s , p l a c e s wh e r e p e o p l e c a n s o c i a l i z e , a us e ful s e r v i c e fo r t h e c o m m un i t y, a n d a p l a c e fo r y o un g p e o p l e t o l i v e , wo r k a n d e x p e r i m e n t . S e c o n d , a b i g p a r t wi l l fo c us o n c r e a t i n g a p e r fe c t l y s us t a i n a b l e n e i ghb o r h o o d , t h i r d wi l l b e a s m a l l fo c us o n h a v i n g a n a c t i v e gr o un d fl o o r r e fl e c t i n g t h e o l d c i t y c o n c e p t .

Ke y wo r d s : Ta l A l Z a r a z e e r, Ur b a n , I n fo r m a l S e t t l e m e n t , S us t a i n a b i l i t y, D e n s i t y, S t r a t e gy, G r o un d fl o o r and Green.

Fig.1. Aleppo before the war

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5

Introduction

1.1. Background The war in Syria has turned many of its cities into battlegrounds.

Places like Aleppo, Homs and Raqqa have been reshaped beyond recognition by the destruction of architecture and the mass displacement of citizens.

Residents are trapped in a war zone, struggling to cope with everyday activities. Their daily routines involve checkpoints, security zones and besieged neighborhoods. They live between ruins and are disoriented within their own homeland. Amid mass destruction, they have lost a sense of belonging in the cities they used to know. Coming back to a destroyed country is hard, to a destroyed city is harder, and to a destroyed home is even harder.

In Syria, where the war has entered its eighth year, architects and urban planners can no longer wait for “post-war reconstruction” plans or “peace resolution”. Instead they are already working to save their heritage, preserve their identity, and protect their history from being erased by extreme violence. But as we know, not only local architects are interested in reconstructing their own home and country, but “post-war” cities has always been a point of attraction to international architects and urban planners too, whose ideas might erase the authenticity and the character of the city.

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1.4. Strategy But this is happening in a variety of ways. Some are trying to rebuild destroyed houses and souks, and provide shelter for internally displaced populations. Some are travelling to other countries – Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey – to receive training on the best ways to save their cities and heritage. Others known as outsiders trying to give new urban proposals for the cities in need.

The question is whether to reconstruct the city as it was before war, or give it a new opportunity while conserving its history and heritage?

The process in this thesis is divided into four steps:

1.2. Purpose

Step 2: Choice of Site After all the analysis done on Aleppo, we chose a neighborhood in South west of Aleppo called Tal Al Zarazeer, an originally very poor neighborhood with bad condition and one of the worst case of informal settlements in Aleppo, severely damaged after war. Some of its buildings are still standing but in a very bad condition. We decided to work on 180000 m2 of this plot.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new vision of a neighborhood (as a new settlement) in South west of Aleppo, turning it into a prototype for all future neighborhoods in Aleppo excluding the old town which is an exceptional case.

1.3. Scope The scope of this thesis will be on a new proposal for an extensive master plan for the redevelopment of 180000 m2 of Tal Al Zarazeer neighborhood, by understanding the law regulations in urban planning, by collecting the data needed (demography...), by studying the types of buildings, methods of construction in this area, the history etc..., in order to be able to have a convenient proposal .

Step 1: Analysis The analysis part is always the first step to do in any kind of project. It includes all type of research needed in order to understand the current situation economically, socially and physically of the place. In our case, it is based on a post war devastation which will include the before and after war situation of Aleppo : the “Old Town” & the governate.

Step 4: Design of buildings Now comes the design part of the buildings, their functions, plans, sections, and elevations. Focusing on reaching the character of Aleppo was extremely important. Finally, in order to see if we reached our goal with the proposal given, we have to calculate: the number of people that we accommodated, the percentage of green comparing to the built area, and the surface area to volume ratio. This is very important at the end of our proposal to examine our work.

Step 3: Urban Planning/Strategies Starting in understanding the law and regulations of civic organization in Aleppo, then studying the morphology, Urban planning, and the strategy (parking, landscape, master plan, etc...).

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Chapter 1: The City of Aleppo The site of Aleppo is determined by the fracture line crossing Syria from North to South. The city was built on the alluvial plain of the river Qweiq following this line.

The old city beneath the Citadel has kept many traces from the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods, most evident in the grid layout of the street pattern, which was transformed into a network of pedestrian aleys in Islamic times..

Fig.2. Location of Aleppo in Syria; Source: Google maps

Brief History Aleppo is a city in Syria, serving as a capital of Aleppo governate. With an official population of 4.6 million in 2010, Aleppo was the largest Syrian city before the syrian civial war. Today it’s population marks 1.7 million in 2019.

Fig.3. A daytime view of the city of Aleppo; Source: Reuters

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It is Syria’s largest urban area and the country’s dominant manufacturing center, with a likely share of 35 percent of manufacturing employment and value added, and perhaps an even greater share of exports; it is a significant attraction to a growing tourism trade; and it is located in a highly productive agricultural region, for which it supplies agricultural inputs and processes much of its agricultural output.

Fig.4. A daytime view of the city of Aleppo; Source: Reuters

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Evolution of Aleppo’s Urban fabric

fig.5. Map showing the first Roman trac- fig.6. Map showing Aleppo at the 11th es ( City Walls) century.

New extensions & new modes of urbanization (From 1870 to 1980)

fig.7. Map showing Aleppo in the middle of the 13th century.

fig.8. Map showing Aleppo at the end of the 19th century.

The old city beneath the Citadel has kept many traces from the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods, most evident in the grid layout of the street pattern, which was gradually transformed into a network of pedestrian alleys in Islamic times.

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fig.9. Map showing Aleppo in 1930.

The decline of commerce, due to gradual replacement of the traditional caravan routes by new sea connections after the seventeenth century, resulted in a stagnation of urban development.

fig.10. Map showing Aleppo in 1980.

The recent demolition of a whole quarter, to be replaced by a new commercial center, indicates that the central area of the town is now in the process of expanding into the historic fabric.

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Masterplan Proposals

fig.11. Plan Rousseau 1825

Roads’ network

fig.12. Main roads by Gutton 1954

fig.13. Proposal by Banshoya in 1974

fig.14. Existing network for vehicular and pedestrian movement around and inside the walled city.

fig.15. Vehicular traffic network proposed by the masterplan of G. Banshoya 1969)

fig.16. Road’s network

Commercial activities reached their peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Aleppo was the third most important city in the Ottoman Empire after Istanbul and Cairo. It was during this period that the city grew beyond the old city walls and new suburbs were attached to it, such as Jdeide on the North and Banqousa on the East.

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13

Cul De Sac System

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Historical Urban Arab Form

fig.17. Cul de Sac system inside Aleppo’s Urban fabric

fig.18. Historical Urban Arab Form in Aleppo

Aleppo cannot properly be defined as Islamic in its origin quadrilateral configuration; rather it represents the co-presence of the classical/occidental with Islamic/oriental city. It is the result of the superimposition of the Islamic scheme on the classical one. Thus, a cul de sac system disrupted the ancient geometrical street pattern in order to allow access to the courtyard houses.

For centuries, Aleppo held its place among the most important cultural and commercial centers of the middle east. Today, due to the relatively good preservation of its fabric and its monuments, Aleppo is considered as one of the most significant historic towns of the islamic world. The residential quarters intra muros, the suburbs of Jdeide with their superb private houses, and the historic fabric as a whole through their environmental qualities, represent a living cultural heritage of great value.

Courtyard System

fig.19. Voids in the city (Courtyards)

The heart of the city is the so-called Medina, the large commercial center established along the traditional east-west axis of the hellenistic town, with the main mosque occupying the former space of the Agora. The Medina has a total length of approximately 750 meters, stretching from the Antioch Gate (Bab Antakya) to the foot of the Citadel and extending to a width of approximately 300 meters near the Great Mosque. It is the focal point for all the city’s public activities, but contains no private dwellings, these are confined to seperate residential areas. This core, of public life consists of a number of paralel rows of covered market alleys (souks) linked by perpendicular connections, and most of them specializing in a specific branch of commerce. Between the shops are entrances to larger buildings behind them, such as storehouses (khans), manufacturing units, mosques, schools (madrasahs), public baths (hammams), restaurants, etc... most of them having their own courtyard.

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Historical Timeline

fig.23. Islamic students pray inside a Mosque ;Source: Reuters

fig.20. Everyday life on one of Aleppo’s streets; Source: Reuters

fig.22. The Citadel of Aleppo, Symbol of the City ;Source: Sputnik News fig.21. Umayyad Mosque; Source: Business Insider

fig.24. A view of the Citadel from the roof of a home, 2006 ;Source: Khaled al Hariri

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fig.25. Aleppo’s famous market’s activity ;Source: Reuters

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Before

After

fig.26. Aerial view: Before/After

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MARCH 2011: A turning point in Syrians in life! fig.28. Aerial view: The Citadel; Source: Sputnik News

fig.27. The entrance of The Citadel; Source: BBC

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Aleppo used to be Syria’s biggest city and economy before war with 2.3 million people.

But since arab spring happened in 2011, it’s become the center-piece of destruction where the vast majority of the city is in rubles.

fig.29. The destroyed Umayyad Mosque; Source: Reuters

fig.31. The destroyed Souk; Source: World Monuments funds

fig.30. The destroyed Umayyad Mosque; Source: Archdaily

“90% of the surface area of the old city is estimated to have been damaged by the war ”.

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fig.31. Rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppo; Source: Business Insider

fig.33. The Ansari Neighborhood in eastern Aleppo; Source: Associated Press

fig.32. Graph showing landuse vs damage level; Source: Archdaily

fig.34. Syrian children playing in Karm AlJabal neighborhood, North Aleppo; Source: Al-Arabiyah

fig.35. A street in the old town of Aleppo; Source: Sputnik

fig.36. Bab Al-Ansari street; Source: BBC News

fig.37. Soldiers in one of Aleppo’s destroyed streets; Source: Reuters

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fig.41.Street View from the balcony; Source:Source: Sput- fig.41. View from the balcony; Source: fig.40. in South-West of Aleppo; Business insider Business insider nik

fig.38. Demographic Data; Source: UNHCR/Syria-Emergency

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fig.39. Street in East Aleppo; Source: middleeasteye.net

fig.42. Damage in one of Aleppo’s street; Source: Reuters

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“The end of the War and the Humanitarian Emergency ”.

“Millions of ordinary people have been forced to flee their homes for safety ”.

fig.43. Families became refugees; Source: Unicef

fig.44. Data aboout Housing and shelter and hosting countries of refugees; Source: UN-HABITAT “ City profile Aleppo”

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fig.45. Photo of a girl trapped in the besieged city; Source: Reuters

fig.46. A father walks with his children through the rubble after a war plane bombed, August 1 2012; Source: Asia News

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Chapter 2: Macro Analysis of Aleppo Governate (Data Analysis) The lack of public spaces inside of the informal settlements contributes to isolation and lacking environmental quality.

As Patrick Wakely suggests, a cost-efficient tool to develop sustainable lown income housing in our hands.

fig.47. Transportation Map

fig.48. Distribution of Green Spaces

fig.49. Coverage of Public Parks( gardens, forests, parks..)

fig.50. Damaged Neighborhoods by War

RAILWAY

OLD TOWN ALEPPO

NODE

RAILWAY

80 -100%

10 - 20%

HEAVILY DAMAGED

RAILWAY

MAIN ROADS

QWEIK RIVER

GREEN SPACES

QWEIK RIVER

20 - 80%

0-0

PARTIALLY DAMAGED

QWEIK RIVER

AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

MAIN ROADS

AFFECTED

MAIN ROADS

OLD TOWN ALEPPO

SECONDARY ROADS

OLD TOWN ALEPPO

SECONDARY ROADS

SECONDARY ROADS

Source: City profile Aleppo, UNHABITAT

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SERVICES OF THE NEIGHBOURHOODS ADJACENT TO THE RIVER

DAMAGE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOODS ADJACENT TO THE RIVER

fig.51. Map of services; Source: Open Street Map

fig.52. Map of damages; Source: UN Cartography Section

Map Showing the services of the neighbourhoods surrounding the old town from the north to the south.

Map Showing the damages by the differenciation of colors starting from the North with the “Bagdad Station” area to the South “Al Rammouseh” the industrial area.

Residential

Bus Garage

Industrial zone

Mosque

Hotel

Green

Museum

Consulat Railways Building Mini Mall

Library Police Station Government Building Church

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Hospital Souk

School Administrative Building Parking TV Building Railway Qweik River

Demolished Highly Affected Moderately Affected Possibly Affected Railway Qweik River

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Chapter 3: Micro - Analysis 3.1. Informal Settlement Map of Aleppo

fig.53. Affected Population per Housing Damage Level

fig.54. Distribution of Heavy damage per Land-Use

Informal Housing Mixed Residential & Commercial HEAVILY DAMAGED

Residential

PARTIALLY DAMAGED

Old City

AFFECTED

Services Source: City profile Aleppo, UNHABITAT

Fig.55. Informal Settlement Map of AleppoSource: Informal settlements in Aleppo (UDP) Qweik River

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fig.58. Tal El Zarazeer situation before the war; Source: Informal Settlement Report, UDP

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fig. 56. Urban situation in Tal El Zarazeer; Source: Informal Settlement Report, UDP

3.2. Typological Diversity

Looking at Aleppo’s neighbourhoods reveals a very diverse picture. There is the recently renovated Old City with its traditional courtyard houses, the urban blocks of Azizieh, the hyper-dense and overcrowded informal settlements of Sheikh Maksoud, the upmarket areas of Shabah and Mokambo, the Villas of Hamdaniye or the modernist slabs of Hanano.

With some exceptions they all have in common that they are relatively compact and dense. The recently built city extensions in the west along the third ring are comprised of rather compact typologies as well. This tradition is an advantage that Aleppo has in comparison to many European and American cities, that currently struggle with space wasting and car-related sprawl — consequences of monofunctional low density developments.

In general, the positive aspects of the new typologies that are being built in quick pace in the west of Aleppo are clearly their fairly high standard of construction and infrastructure, their compactness and their efficient use of space with floor space ratios (FAR).

Nonetheless we are witnessing a problematic trend towards monotony and a lack of identity that is due to the standardization of the buildings, but also due to the type and size of floor plans offered. Although the structure of the typologies is highly flexible and would allow for diversity of floor plans and typologies, the offer clearly address higher income groups with larger families. In short - the basic ingredients are all there, but the architectural and spatial quality leaves room for improvement.

fig.57. Tal El Zarazeer situation before the war; Source: Informal Settlement Report, UDP

35

3.3. Site- Analysis

Located in the southwest of Aleppo, the residents of Tal al Zarazeer live in very poor conditions.

The area is dominated by highrise blocks of flats built illegally by developers or incrementally by individuals adding floors.

3.3.1. History Originally this area was privately owned agricultural land where olive and pistachio trees were grown. Around half of the land area was subsequently expropriated by the government, with Awqaf also owning some land and private sector businesses owning the area in the eastern part of the neighbourhood. The area has long been used as a solid waste dump for Aleppo and also contained a repair yard for buses. The settlement began to develop in 1970 when much of the area was squatted by developers who built high-rise blocks of flats which they sold to very poor people. In the southern part of the settlement, individuals bought plots of land and built their own houses (often on foundations of loosely compacted garbage) that in some places reach 20m in depth). The area is very poorly subdivided with narrow streets, especially in the south of the settlement furthest from the city centre.

fig. 59. Tal El Zarazeer Services.

fig. 60. Tal El Zarazeer Damages; Source: UN Cartography Section

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3.3.2. Condition of poverty pockets inside Tal Al Zarazeer

3.3.3. Indicators of High Density of Tal El Zarazeer

Source: Community area based development in the Northern Region of Syria: Case study of urban Aleppo, 2011

fig.61. General conditions of houses & streets.

fig.63. Quality of water mains.

fig.65. Mediocre street condition, electrical cables on the ground.

fig.62. Open areas towards the south.

fig.64. Illegal electricity wiring.

fig.66. Uncovered sewer pot holes.

fig.67. Indicators of high density informal settlement; Source:

Community area based development in the Northern Region of Syria: Case study of urban Aleppo, 2011

38

39

MORPHOLOGY BEFORE THE WAR

MORPHOLOGY AFTER THE WAR

Before Before

fig.68. Aerial photo of the site. Source: Google Earth Pro, year 2011

40

fig.69. Drawing morphology. Source: Google Earth Pro, year 2011

After

fig.70. Aerial photo of the site. Source: Google Earth Pro, year 2019

fig.71. Drawing morphology. Source: Google Earth Pro, year 2019

41

4.2. References from the Old Town of Aleppo

Chapter 4: Planning and Strategy 4.1. Theoratical Concept Aleppo is going through many transformations, which are slowly incrementing the process of architectural and economical requalification of the district. The global energy transformation is already happening, sustainable and ecological environments are mandatory nowadays in every new step taken: 1- Solving the Informal Settlement problem.

2- Preserving the character of the city with respecting its important and traditional elements.

3- Solving the problem of density with occupying people as much as possible.

4- Creating a perfectly sustainable neighborhood: unifying green spaces, reducing global warming by installing solar panels on the roof, car free and building with local stone material.

42

fig.72. Plan of Umayyad Mosque with the Grid 5 x 5; Source: Monuments of Syria.

fig.73. Old souk typology; Source: Wordpress

43

fig.76. The narrow passages and The Gates fig.75. Section of the Souk showing its structure

fig.74. The interior of the Souk;Source: By Charles Fred

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The Souk is a very important and famous part of the City.

It consists of a number of parallel rows of covered market alleys linked by perpendicular connections, and most of them specializing in a specific branch of commerce. Between the shops, are entrances to larger buildings behind of them, such as storehouses (khans), manufacturing units,(qeysariyes), mosques, schools (madrasahs), public baths (hammams), restaurants, etc., most of them having their own courtyard.

The main alleys connected the central area with the major gates, and continuing from there they often became the spines of new suburb developments. As channels of pedestrian flows they attracted commerce and public services. Mosques and hamams were often placed at important crossings or at nodes, where the alleys of the residential quarters met the main thoroughfares.

45

46

fig.77. The Courtyard, Source: Medium/Syriafest.

fig.78. The Iwan; Source: islamicart.museumwnf

The logic behind this type is to provide a protective area from outsides forces. Over time, it has developped into a solid, logical configuration that allows the control of sunlight. It’s one of the most important features from the traditional architecture and the historic urban fabric in the islamic cities. The use of the courtyard allows high density in ancient cities which needed to be surrounded by walls in order to protect against attacks. It offered also privacy and security. This typology provides also solar protection by having everything open toward this shaded courtyard. It provides also light and ventilation to rooms.

The Iwan is a covered open space from which the aesthetic qualities of the courtyard can be enjoyed. It’sused as a pleasant, comfortable open-air reception, seating area and a venue for evening events. It is located on north facade of the courtyard to catch the cool breeze during summer. The Iwan is a bioclimatic architectural element, a semi-outdoor open space closed from three sides and opened from the south side.

It protects the walls from sun and absorbs solar radiationin winter.

47

4.3. Case Studies

fig.82. Beirut downtown before war; Source: the961

fig.79. Street view of the Kishk Openings; Source: Global geography by Gerhard Huber April 2009

Kishks are wooden kiosks, protruding windows similar to wooden balconies, used in traditional architecture to ensure the privacy and provide natural ventilation.

fig.83. Solidere’s empty downtown; Source: Unknown

Solidere is the name of the private company contracted to rebuild downtown Beirut after the Lebanese Civil War (19751990). However, Beirut’s reconstruction had wide-ranging political and economic repercussions that offer an object lesson in how not to rebuild a devastated city.

Solidere turned Beirut into a city of exclusion. Its iconic architecture and tax incentives attracted foreign investment, in turn helping the country’s economic recovery. More buildings were torn down during reconstruction than were destroyed by the war, transforming Beirut’s warscarred layers of history from the Roman, Mamluk, Ottoman and French periods into a city without memory.

fig.81. The Sustainable City Dubai; Source: thesustainablecity.ae

fig.80. Closer view of Kishk Openings; Source: Syriaphotoguide

48

Strategy : 1- Environmentally -friendly lifestyle.

2- Safety with car free residential clusters.

3- Two parking spaces shaded by solar panels plus additional spaces for communal electric buggies for each villa.

4- Natural green & relaxing ambiance with 60% green spaces.

5- Employement opportunities for residents.

6- Social activities & events, including workshops & trainings.

7- Urban farming & locally grown produce.

49

fig.87. The Narrow Passages in the project

fig.88. The Narrow Passages in the project

4.4. Diagrams 4.4.1. Project Concept

fig.84. Sketch of distance between buildings

fig.85. Layers of the Courtyard House

fig.86. Section of Zones: Private, public, semi-public

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fig.89. The Souk in the project

fig.90. Sketch of a Gate in the project

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4.4.2. Density fig.91. Axonometric view of the project showing the zoning and the % of built area vs. the green one

72 %

BUILT

56 % RESIDENTIAL 2608

28 %

GREEN

38 % 3 FLOORS 1904 18 % 4 FLOORS 704 15% PUBLIC SPACES

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Before Before

After

4.4.3. Sustainability As for proving our aim of the idea of Sustainability, we decided to remove the destroyed buildings and maintain the Green Belt around the Qweik River, free of any buildings and reserved only for Agricultural Fields and for Public areas such as a Park and an area for jogging and for recreational activities.

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fig.92. Aerial view of the Green Belt before the proposal

fig.93. Aerial view of the Green Belt after the proposal

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Car free area, with Bike’s Parkings CALCULATION OF SOLAR PANELS: 36 x 3 sqm = 108 m2 108 / 1.78 m2 = 60 panels

1.98 m 90 cm

fig.94. Pedestrian Area and Bike Parkings

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fig.95. Diagram showing pedestrian areas

fig.96. Urban block

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4.5 Project Strategy

L OGGRYI D 5 x 5 12 G 5 4 GMR O E ERNP H O 2 G ER N I DE R5AxT5E D A X I S

AXIS

N E5RxA5T E D A X I S 21 GGREI D

S T R AT E GY

T R A M WAY S TO P

T R A M WAY S TO P

T R A M WAY S TO P

AXIS

AXIS 5 G REEN

S T R AT

4 OEREPNH O L O G Y 5 M GR

S T R AT E GY 1 G E N E R AT E D A X I S

4 MORPHOLOGY

fig.97 fig.99

T R A M WAY S TO P

T R A M WAY S TO P

2 GRID 5x5

AXIS

5 xL 5S C H E M E O F R O A D S 32 GGE RNI EDR A

5 GREEN

AXIS

T R A M WAY S TO P AXIS

H ER M E OF ROADS 6 W A L K A B I L I5 T YG R E E N 65 WGARLEKEANB I L I3T YG E N E R A L S23C G G E INDE R5 Ax 5 L SCHEME OF ROADS 6 WALKABILITY

fig.101

fig.62

3 GENERAL SCHEME OF ROADS

6 WALKABILITY

1MIN WALKING

1MIN WALKING

1MIN WALKING

G R O U N D F LO O R O C C U PAT I O N H I G H WAY

H I G H WAY 1MIN WALKING

EXISTING ROAD

EXISTING ROAD INTERNAL fig.98

INTERNAL ROAD

G R O U N D F LO O R O C C U PAT I O N

ROAD

SOUK ROAD

H I G H WAY

SOUK ROAD

EXISTING ROAD

INTERNAL ROAD

PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ROADS

SOUK ROAD

PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ROADS

5 M PEDESTRIAN ROAD

5 M PEDESTRIAN ROAD

3 GENERAL SCHEME OF ROADS

58

6 WALKABILITY

fig.59

EXISTING ROAD INTERNAL ROAD

fig.100

3 GENERAL SCHEME OF ROADS

fig.102

H I G H WAY

PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ROADSSOUK ROAD PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ROADS 5 M PEDESTRIAN ROAD 5 M PEDESTRIAN ROAD 5/10

G R O U N D F LO O R O C C U PAT I O N G R O U N D F LO O R O C C U PAT I O N

6 WALKABILITY

fig.102 5/10

5/10

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STOP

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fig.104. Vehicular Road North Direction

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fig.105. Road connecting Public functions

fig.106. Road leading to North Aleppo

fig.107. Pedestrian Souk Road fig.108. Tramway Road

fig.109. 5m Pedestrian Road

61

Chapter 5: Masterplan Proposal 5.1 Plans

fig.110. Planivolumetrico

62

fig.111. Ground Floor

63

fig.113. Street view of shops

fig.115. People’s activity around shops

Stores that exists all over Aleppo, offer all kind of products for the daily needs and are important anchor points of identity as they are inside the neighborhoods and neighbors often accidentilly meet there.

By creating policies to promote their even distribution throughout the neighborhoods in distances that the customer would walk and combining them with other strategic programs, they can become micro centralities that offer services of proximity (food, goods, copy service, etc....), promote social interaction as well as generate new local economies. People come to chat, have a coffee and discuss the situation of the neighborhood. fig.112. Typical Floor

64

fig.114. Closer view for Aleppo’s shops

65

5.2. Axonometry/ Zoning

Media Center

Sport Complex

fig.117. Flow of people in ground floor

fig.119. Souk activity vs Residential

School and Library

fig.121.Parkings covered by solar panels

Medical Center Spa Center

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fig.116. Axonometrical View of the Project alongside Public Buildings

fig.118. Courtyard houses vs commercial ground floor

fig.120. Tiny passages, public vs private

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fig.133. fig. View on the Courtyard of Type C

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fig.139. View from the Park

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References Joint Rapid assessment of Northern Syria - Aleppo city assessment28 march 2013.

Damage Assessment Map by UN Cartography Section for Special Envoy Office.

GTZ - Aleppo diverse open city. An urban vision for the year 2025, UBERBEAU.

The Forma Urbis of Aleppo (Syria) during the Middle Ages Giulia Annalinda Neglia

The conservation of the old city of Aleppo , Syrian Arab Republic: Cooperation with Member States in the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage. Paris 1980.

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