Urban Planning Portfolio - Nour Rustum

Nour Rustum

Urban Planning

Portfolio

Nour Rustum Contact Mail: nourrustum7@gmail.com Phone: +44 (0) 7831 760376

About me A dynamic urban planner with over four years of experience in diverse development projects and workshops, demonstrating a proven ability to collaborate effectively on complex initiatives.

Leveraging expertise in planning principles, technical skills, and stakeholder engagement, I am committed to enhancing the built environment and fostering community well-being. Driven to tackle pressing urban challenges such as rapid urbanisation, housing shortages, and environmental sustainability, I am equipped with a solid academic foundation and hands-on experience.

Thus, I am eager to contribute innovative solutions that address these critical issues and make a meaningful impact within any team.

Education

Work Experience

MA International Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Westminster

2021 - 2023

Urban Planner | Apprenticeship

2019 - 2023

Teaching Assistant

2018 - 2023

Architect

2023 - 2024

BSc in Architecture, Tishreen University 2013 - 2018

Proficiency AutoCAD Adobe Design: Photoshop | Illustrator | InDesign Microsoft Office suites ArcGIS Geo Open Accessibility Tool (GOAT)

The American University of Beirut, and BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg In cooperation with TU Berlin

The Urban Planning Department Faculty of Architecture - Tartous University

Arch Cesar Daya Office in Syria

Selected Projects of My Work

Content 1

2024

Strategic City and Regional Planning​Project Baramulla, India

2

2021 - 2023

Local Strategic Planning​of the Historiwcal City of Maloula​ Maaloula City, Syria

3

2021

The Building and its Tissue |Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

4

2021

Reviving Castelvecchio Calvisio | Italy

1 Strategic City and Regional Planning Project Part of the International Planning and Sustainable Development Master Course | 2024

Baramulla, India

Wider area of Study

Baramulla Town, the administrative centre of Baramulla district in the Kashmir Valley, is part of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. India’s rapid urbanisation, driven by rural-to-urban migration, has increased the urban population from 23% in 1981 to 30% in 2006.

This trend is evident in Baramulla, where population concentration strains limited space and infrastructure. Indian urban centres, including Baramulla, face challenges such as inadequate sanitation, infrastructure, and open spaces, which affect the quality of life. Additionally, rapid growth leads to flooding and social tensions, complicating urban development.

Located in the northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent, the Kashmir region includes Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, each with unique features. Its strategic position, bordered by China to the northeast, Afghanistan to the northwest, and Pakistan to the west, highlights its geopolitical importance. The region is administered

by India, Pakistan, and China, resulting in ongoing territorial disputes since India’s independence in 1947.

District Baramulla (in Yellow) It is the largest in the entire valley, both with reference to the population and area.

Topography

Density and Growth

The high population density concentrate within Baramulla’s central areas, including the CBD and the old town. Density diminishes significantly in outlying areas, likely reflecting reduced service availability and reliance on the town centre.

Villages in and around the Town To Handwara town in Kupwara district To Teetwal border village in Jammu and Kashmir

Legends:

, ntnag r, Ana a g a al To Srin Banih , and d n u ig Qaz

To Srinagar and Shrinagar International Airport

To Uri and Line of Control with Pakistan

To Gulmarg

Baramulla tehsil encompasses approximately 42 villages, with those near the town exhibiting significant reliance on urban amenities. This dependence contributes to infrastructure strain within the city centre and increases population density.

Landuse map and amenities Legends:

Land Use Analysis: Baramulla exhibits a mix of land uses. Residential areas (both traditional and planned) dominate, with mixed-use patterns likely present. The CBD serves as the commercial hub, while institutional uses (educational, healthcare, government) are also significant. Agricultural land exists on the outskirts, with limited parks and open spaces within the town itself. Religious sites reflect Baramulla’s diverse history, and transportation nodes include the train and bus stations.

Road Network Legends:

Connectivity Analysis: The National Highway 1 (NH-1) serves as the primary connection to Srinagar and Uri. While intra-town connections exist, they vary in quality, with the potential for narrow, less organised streets in the older town.

Key Challenges: Traffic analysis highlights several issues: Central Congestion: The CBD experiences significant traffic flow and congestion, especially during peak hours.

Road Capacity: Limited road capacity in denser areas struggles to accommodate increasing vehicular traffic.

Parking: Insufficient parking exacerbates congestion, particularly in commercial zones.

Pedestrian/Non-motorised Transport: Infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists is inadequate, posing safety concerns and hindering alternative transport modes.

Opportunities:

Constraints:

The Prposed Growth Scenario Selected (High Growth)

Modified Land Use for the chosen scenario Baramulla’s recent 4% growth, as projected by the 2011 Indian census, supports a “High Growth” scenario for long-term planning. Proposed infrastructure includes a ring road to ease CBD congestion and an expanded CBD incorporating the old town’s commercial area. The plan emphasises educational institutions as economic drivers and considers a hydroelectric power plant to utilise river energy, enhancing self-sufficiency and potentially generating revenue through electricity sales. To ensure resilience, the plan allows for converting designated residential and development lands back to agriculture if growth declines, leveraging their suitability for this purpose.

Legends:

Modified Road Network

Legends:

Potential Improvements: Bypass Routes: Divert traffic away from congested central areas.

Road Upgrades: Widen and improve existing roads to increase capacity.

Organised Parking: Reduce on-street parking and improve traffic flow.

Multimodal Focus: Incorporate dedicated bus lanes, pedestrian walkways, and cycling infrastructure.

Considerations: Geographical Constraints: Mountainous terrain limits expansion possibilities.

Environmental Impact: Assess the impact of road development.

Community Consultation: Involve the community in the decision-making process.

Key Changes in the Modified Network: Ring Road: Divert traffic from the congested town centre.

Enhanced Connectivity: Construct new bridges to improve connectivity and reduce bottlenecks.

Multimodal Focus: Expand pedestrian pathways, integrate riverside green spaces with cycling lanes, and add boat connections.

Relocated Bus Station: Move the station to alleviate CBD congestion and align with the proposed BRT system. A multi-story parking structure will replace the old bus station to solve the lack of parking issue in the CBD area.

Transit Oriented Development - BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) System Legends:

The BRT System

Existing and New bus stops

Bus Station and Nodes

Transjakarta, Jakarta: Baramulla’s proposed BRT system is inspired by Transjakarta, a successful model known for affordability and efficiency. Dedicated lanes and strategically placed stations in the BRT system will offer faster travel times, improved reliability, and equitable access through a fare structure catering to a wide range of income levels (ITDP, 2019). This is expected to reduce Source: (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), 2019) traffic congestion, enhance air quality, and provide a cost-effective public transportation option.

Bus routes

Blue Green InfrastrucBaramulla needs integrated green and blue infrastructure to tackle air pollution, limited green spaces, and insufficient facilities for physical activity. This initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion with dedicated lanes and transform Baramulla into a greener, more livable town. Strategies include irrigation channels for floodwater crop cultivation and “Floodable Parks” to mitigate flooding. These measures support climate change adaptation and promote a healthier urban lifestyle. The severe 2014 Jhelum River flood, which inundated about 900 square kilometres, underscores the urgent need for blue-green infrastructure interventions to enhance resilience and manage future flood risks. These interventions include: 1. Terrace farming in Baramulla’s mountainous regions 2 and 4. Floodable Parks and Markets 3. Water retention ponds

Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI)

Precedents: Area 1

Area 3

T flo he od mo s st in p bl ron ue e fra ar m ea e to

BGI solution map:

Terrace Farming in Asia Source: (Earth.com, n.d)

Retention ponds Source: (susdrain.org, n.d)

Area 4

Area 2

Copenhagen’s Enghaveparken public Floodable park Floodable Park in China Source: (Dezeen, 2023) Source: (La Loggia, Puleo and Freni, 2020)

Tourism Trail Concept

The Concept: Baramulla’s natural and cultural assets, including farms, historical sites, parks, hiking routes, and viewpoints, are underutilised tourism resources. Strategic development of these assets into interconnected trails aligns with ecotourism principles, emphasising sustainability and preservation of natural beauty and cultural heritage while generating revenue.

2 Local Strategic Planning​of the Historical City of Maloula​ Part of the collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB), and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg | 2021 - 2023

Maaloula City - Syria

Context map Maaloula is historically significant as a Christian pilgrimage site, but it suffered extensive damage during the 2013-2014 armed conflict, leading to the destruction of heritage houses, monasteries, and churches.

While some residents are rebuilding using local materials, delays and a lack of services have resulted in population decline and abandonment. The town’s rich cultural and natural heritage, including its unique The context map shows the 20 most impor- linguistic tradition and relitant cultural and natural sites in the Syrian gious sites, presents opporArab Republic within the national framework tunities for preservation and highlighted in yellow according to the Regional sustainable development.

Planning Commission.

Base map

Administrative Boundaries

Archaeological areas and Buildings:

A Wine presses / Roman Temples B Saint Thekla Monastery C The eastern fort D Rock of the Gods E Rock funerary monument F Saint George’s Church G Roman Queen’s Bath (Church of Penance)

Urban Fabric Development Timeline

H Temple of Jupiter I The caves (temples) west of the monastery of Saints Sarkis and Bacchus J Monastery of Saints Sarkis and Bacchus K The western fort L Roman Temples

10 thousand – 1500 BC

900 – 1800 AC Ottoman– Christian era

1500 – 734 BC Aramaic era

1800 – 1950 Christian – Islamic era

734 BC – 395 AC Greek & Roman era

1990 – 2021 AC The new covenant

395 – 900 AC Byzantine era

Vision and Goals The study envisions Maaloula as a living history, where sustainable lifestyles and traditional activities thrive. It aims to make Maaloula an attractive site that revitalizes the local community, balances visitors with sustainable daily life, and boosts the economy by promoting local industries and traditional practices.

Objectives include expanding religious tourism to accommodate inclusive tourism, enhancing vibrancy, and fostering inclusivity. Maaloula will be a community designed to encourage interactions between nature and people.

| Living history | Incremental projects | Temporary activities | Social Inclusion | Sustainability | Blue and Green Infrastructure | Supply chain | Inclusive tourism

Phase 1

Phase 2

The proposed design will be implemented in phases, testing incremental and temporary activities. It aims to diversify visitors by expanding tourism beyond religious sites to include agro-tourism, attracting a broader audience, including youth. The study also seeks to revitalize religious tourism due to its global significance and economic benefits for Maaloula.

By leveraging tourism and high-quality local products, the plan defines action areas for tourism and regional markets, enhancing the living standards of residents.

Sections

Vision

3 The Building and its Tissue (Considerations about the MoMRa Head Office Tower Building Project and its relation to the Urban Tissue of Riyadh) - Part of the University of Porto Workshop | 2021

Riyadh - Saudi Arabia

The main focus of the study is on the considerations about the MoMRa Head Office Tower Building Project and its relation to the Urban Tissue of Riyadh City.

The history of urban planning in Riyadh was examined to understand the city’s different development phases and how these stages are reflected in its urban fabric.

The urban form consists of three key elements: streets, plots/blocks, and buildings, each with varying degrees of persistence over time. The spatial arrangement and combination of these elements create the urban tissue. Addressing issues like lack of urban vitality or pedestrian movement solely through building implementation is often ineffective.

The concept of spatial capital emphasizes that attracting diverse economic opportunities and social groups requires a varied urban form, particularly in plot/block systems derived from the street network.

While urban morphology studies urban form and spatial dynamics, urban planning focuses on creating these forms. Despite the beneficial relationship between these disciplines, the integration of morphological methods into urban design has been limited, facing resistance from established urban development processes and within the architecture and planning communities.

4 Reviving Castelvecchio Calvisio Part of the Second International Architecture Summer School Organised by ISAR | 2021

Italy

This summer school was organized

by ISAR (International Society for the Archaeology, Art, and Architecture of Rome), Ozyegin University, University of Florence, Polytechnic State University, D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, University of Novi Sad, and “Sapienza” University of Rome.

I worked remotely with my team on a case study to suggest new plans for Castelvecchio Calvisio Town for the sake of developing the area after the earthquake that struck the Abruzzo Region in 2009.

Strategies and Approaches

Castelvecchio Calvisio boasts an impressive history and landscape, with the potential for sustainable agriculture. Its natural surroundings offer health benefits, insulation, and scenic viewpoints.

The area is ideal for wellness retreats, including detox, therapy, and meditation vacations. The landscape provides challenging routes for hiking and cycling enthusiasts. Existing ruins present opportunities for creating unique gathering spaces and openings, enhancing the village’s appeal.

The eco-healthy approach forms the foundation for Castelvecchio Calvisio’s redevelopment, focusing on socio-economic recovery, facilitating residents’ return, and attracting new generations.

This strategy builds on the town’s historical identity of agriculture and animal breeding, which naturally supports the health system approach.

However, revitalisation efforts extend beyond simply bringing people back. The plan addresses the need for new job opportunities suitable for both older and younger generations, fostering intergenerational integration and solving transportation issues to create a sustainable, vibrant community.

Grape

Proposals A new identity for Castelvecchio Calvisio can be established through a health and well-being centre, attracting tourists and serving locals. Drawing inspiration from global examples, the town can be transformed into a meditation and isolation destination, featuring spa and therapy facilities. The landscape offers opportunities for hiking and cycling routes, connecting with nearby cities. Local production gardens can host festivals to promote regional products. Sustainable agriculture can create an economic loop through local markets. Repurposing open spaces will allow for diverse functions and activities, enhancing the town’s appeal and functionality.

Landscape strategies

Proposals

Urban Planning Portfolio Nour Rustum

2024