Portfolio - Rahaf

PORTFOLIO

URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN SELECTED WORKS 2018-23

RAHAF ASMAR

BA IN URBAN PLANNING & DESIGN ENGINEERING

URBAN LANDSCAPE & DESIGN

TARTU, ESTONIA

to develop a p an that implements and approaches different principles recommended for designing urban landscape spaces within green and blue infrastructure This course is consisting of 3 phases First an Urban Landscape Analysis Second creating program and conceptual plan for the selected site and third preparing a detai ed masterp an

ABOUT THE SITE

Tartu is the second biggest city of Estonia located in the south of the country between the two biggest akes It is known for its history (tourist destination) and vivid student life What characterizes this town is the vast green wi d spaces that come into the urban fabric overlapping with new and older development

Estonians are very much into sports It can be surprising that many parks are places for different sports activities: running skiing and others

The study site is located along Tartu river which is called Emajõgi (mother river) It is f owing through the center of the city and characterized by a fu ly developed center nightlife and ca mer wild areas on the outskirts of the city (wet meadows forests)

DESIGN PREPOSITIONS & STATEGIES

FOREST

ESTONIAN NATIONAL MUSUEM

CONECTIONS

Connecting the site to other major zones surround ng and the res dent al area beside to maximize its potent al

making use of the direct connections that existed

MIX OF USES

Creating a mix of uses to cater to the demands of the neighborhood & the sports requ rements of Estonian citizens and vis tors

The mix of uses is affordable and incorporated with the existing recreationa blocks

EMU UNIVERSITY

STUDY SITE

TARTU UNIVERSITY

CITY CENTER

SENSE OF PLACE

Exp oiting the potential of the site to become a cultura & community hub with PUBLIC spaces that serves the ne ghborhood

The central Large patch of and can be converted into an active Public Space by creating dynamism in the site that interacts with nature characterizing the place

GREEN POCKETS

Large unbui t spaces which are abandoned can be conceived as Green pockets connecting the residentia neighborhood to th s potential recreationa zone

Draw the existing vegetation & Beach Park to be given a green connection to create a "Green" theme for the site

No clear access to the nside area

Not connected to the other bank of the river

The noise of construction around

The area with vegetation sits as a visua barrier

Residentia area fences appear as a separation element

THEORITICAL BASED

RESTORATION

IN ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY - exp ore the dynamic connection between individuals and their surrounding ‘HUMAN & NATURE’

It is about the Restoration of the Attention of individuals which comes with stages:

1 Clearer Head ‘concentration’ - A l thoughts observations and information pass through the mind and then fade away

2 Mental Fatigue Recovery - More focus and direct attention to the surrounding

3 Soft Fascination - Gent y distraction of individua s ' attention so it reduces internal noise and provides internal space to relax

4 Ref ection and Restoration - Spending a ong time in the environment individuals are ab e to relax restore their attention and ref ect on their lives

Since the area is surrounded by many recreational areas which are fu of activities that need a fu l body move the Gradient Concept is being proposed to transport human actions from fu movement and loud activ ties to stabi ity where he can experience meditation and re axation with n nature and b odiversity

DESIGN DETAILS

RESTORATIVENESS VISUALISATION

RE-DESIGNED PARKING LOTS

ONE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCES

begin to observe the surrounding feel a l your senses ‘hear sme l see ” w in your mind then fade away.

d yourself getting into a genuine interest in the environment surrounding ect attention to it

cts of the natural environment start effort essly to capture your attention attention will reduce the internal noise and turn it into an interna space

re after spending a long time in the environment the final goa of restoring your attention

TYPES OF SPACES EMERGED

WOODEN PLATFORMS THE SNEAKY AREA

PEDESTRIAN PATHS 'SOFT/GREEN PATH AND HARD/PAVEMENT PATH

GROUPS OF VEGETATION

LOCATION OF SEATING FURNITURE

WOODEN BENCHES

ADVANCED SPATIAL PLANNING

BIRZEIT, PALESTINE

to design an industrial park in the se ected study site by taking into consideration the potential and constraints of this zone. After investigating the real world of industries in the context of the site

URBAN SCALE GROUP OF TWO

PROJECT DEFINITION

DESIGN PREPOSITIONS & STATEGIES

To manage obstacles facing industrial sector the industrial park approach was taken into consideration which is based on planned materials and energy exchanges that seek to minimize energy and raw materials use minimize waste and bui d sustainable economic eco ogica , and social re ationships

The main goa of the Industrial parks including light industries is to reduce pol ution of the surrounding environment and are structured to bring together complementary services and features that will benefit the companies that occupy space there

The industrial Zone of Birzeit at Rama lah & Al-Beireh Governorate where many industries are mainly concentrated random y without adequate infrastructures was chosen as a case study to design an industria park in the se ected site

INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Development for integrated transportation infrastructure

Development of power/ energy infrastructure

Development of a central hub

Development of integrated uti ities

Development of communities infrastructure

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Establishment of a integrated second hub

Provis on of emergency

Renewable energy Infrastructure

Deve opment of training

Integrated commercia Institutiona one socia deve opment

INDUSTRIAL PARK INFRASTRUCTURE

ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Development of a waste co lection

Development of rainwater harvesting and treatment plants

Renewab e energy infrastructure

Development of green infrastructure from native plants and other p ants usefu for decreasing pol ution "Air Visua

REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

LAND-USE PLAN BASED ON BIRZEIT MASTERPLAN - BEFORE

LOPMENT PLAN ON THE PROGRAM ED - AFTER

RECREATIONAL AND OPEN SPACES AREA

INDUSTRIAL AREA

MIXED-USE AREA

03

URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION

AL-MAZRAA' AL-QIBLIYA, PALESTINE

Conscious urban regeneration and deve opment in an existing urban and rural context Ba ance between the economic agenda and the needs of the local spatial context Urban aesthetics form and the existing cultural and architectural heritage A medium-scale urban design project.

LOCAL SCALE GROUP OF THREE

PROJECT BRIEF

The aim of the project is to understand the urban fabric of old towns in genera and how to co ect the data needed about these historica buildings to eva uate the need of each one and to so ve the problems situated in the building through coding each

This project took p ace in the historical center of Al-Mazra'a Al-Qib iya a small village in Rama ah governorate severa site visits were needed to take dimensions and evaluate each bui ding the site was divided into 5 parts distributed among 5 groups of 3 or 4 students

ANALYSIS

Data for each building was co lected based on an international form that helps with evaluating the damage of each bui ding to take into consideration with the development and revitalization plan GIS was used for analyzing these maps

FREDEVELOPMENT PLAN

VISION- Enabling the historica center of Al Mazraa Al Gharbia to be a residential area with a healthy and socially cohesive environment that ref ects the rural character and makes it a rura center that provides the needs of its citizens within loca economic activities that depend on the sustainable exploitation of natura resources

OBJECTIVES - Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the village priorities for future development were determined:

Improving social services:

1

Improving the street network in the region and strengthening its role in integrating regions

3

2 Providing a heath center

Enhancing community participation for women youth and chidren of the vi age especia y residents of the Od City through youth associations and cubs

Developing the loca economy of the vilage:

1 Operating some buildings for muti-purpose use that meets the needs of the ocal popuation and enhances the vilage economy as a whole Providing points of sale for loca products based on agricultural ands

3.

Alocating a group of empty lands for agricuture brings economic returns to the loca population

2 Taking care of natura resources Preserving and enhancing the agricultural aspect of the village Exploiting the open lands in the area to improve the green structure in it Developing a pedestrian path inking the area to each other

FREDEVELOPMENT

PLAN

The sports stadium s under the respons bil ty of the M n stry of Sports and Youth

Reusing the HOSH -space in between a group of buildings- to inc ude the fol owing and maintaining them periodical y as a necessary:

Government hea th center Gym: under the respons bil ty of the municipa ity and the manager is appointed by tender and the maintenance is Within the responsibil ty of the bidder

A youth c ub under the respons bil ty of the Ministry of Youth and Sports

A computer and printer room for univers ty students under the respons bil ty of the pr vate sector

A women s assoc ation for hand crafts under the responsibi ity of the Ministry of Interior

pedestr an path Under the responsibil ty of the townspeople to volunteer

pedestr an path Under the respons bil ty of the townspeople to volunteer

Loca market - under the responsibi ity of some of the residents of the Old City as it const tutes a private sector

Children's park under the responsibi ity of the mun cipal ty

Farmland Under the respons b lity of the owner of the land ownership so that t prov des a source of income for him and the participating farmers

PRINCIPALS OF SPATIAL PLANNING 1

A fina comprehensive plan is proposed for three urban areas after collecting al sectoral data re ated and analyzing them using GIS full report was submitted by the end of the course

PROJECT DEFINITION

Introduction to principles of spatial planning and theories at the local regional and nationa levels

Different scientific and strategic p anning approaches Decision-making mechanisms Sectora p anning 348 Field surveys and data analysis Deve opment of planning alternatives for selected urban areas An overview on p anning policies and planning practices in Palestine as wel as on the different institutions involved in this process Studio work concentrating on contemporary spatia planning issues

Urban areas selected for this project are Birziet Jifna and Abu-Qash they are all located in Rama ah governorate a group of 6 all worked on the analysis phase of analyzing different sectors at a regional sca e by the conceptual framework and fina phase a group of 2 students came up with a proposed master plan for the selected urban areas

STUDY SITE

This report presents three Pa estinian regions Abu Qish Birzeit and Jifna with an origina heritage It a so shows the detai s of these areas and analyzes them and studies their different aspects

SECTORAL ANALYSIS

POLITICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION

POLITICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION

REGIONAL SITUATION

BIRZEIT JIFNA

ABU-QASH

SECTORAL ANALYSIS

HOUSING

FUTURE EXPANSION SERVICES

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

WATER SUPPLIES

ENERGY SUPPLY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SEWAGE

ENVIRONEMENT

CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTH AND OPPORTNITIES

WEAKNESSES AND THREATS

05

PRINCIPALS OF SPATIAL PLANNING 2

JIFNA, PALESTINE

The master plan focuses on the main prob ems of the site and provides a strategic plan for future urban developments taking into consideration the existing elements

URBAN SCALE GROUP OF TWO

PROJECT DEFINITION

A review of contemporary planning issues such as urban spraw s smart growth and management sustainable development etc The deve opment of structural p ans and comprehensive planning strategies for future urban deve opments A study of the urban fabric its e ements and characteristics lega issues of and ownership and land division

site se ection was based on the areas that a l of the class had to work on with principals of spatia planning 1 each group of 4 chose an area which then was divided into 2 areas by half to work on the detai s

STUDY SITE

Jina is a smal village located in Ramal ah and Albireh governorate it has an interesting landscape to work on many issues are related to this vi lage based on its masterplan

SELECTED SITE ANALYSIS

BUILDING BLOCKS AND PLOTS

CONCEPTUAL VISION

REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

Enhance the vil age of Jifna to be a residential area with a healthy and socially cohesive environment that reflects the rura character and makes it a rural center that provides the needs of its citizens within loca economic activities that depend on the exploitation of natura resources in a sustainab e manner

Objectives Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the vil age priorities for fu were determined

1 Improving social services Improving the street network in the region and enh integrating urban areas - Enhancing the education service in the village by design secondary school

2 Developing the local economy of the village - Allocating a group of lands for brings economic returns to the local population Multi-purpose use that meets the popu ation and enhances the village economy as a who e for local products based o Providing points sa e

3 Concern for natura resources Preserving and enhancing the agricu tura aspe Exploiting the open ands in the area to improve the green structure in it Deve oping linking the open green areas to each other

MASTER PLAN & DETAILS

By the final phase each group of 4 students was divided into two groups to work on their part of the study site and provide details for it

OTHER GROUP HALF

GRADUATION PROJECT

JIFNA, SURDA, AND ABUQASH, PALESTINE

this section is more about the introduction of my graduation project, a group of 2 students which was finished by the previous semester of 2022-2023 academic year and I will continue working on it by the spring semester of the same year so you are about to see the theoretical part of the project.

The region that was selected for this study stands in the peri-urban area where the urban and rural areas of Surda Abu Qash and Jifna meet and these two heterogeneous bodies are combined The study area wi be precisely on the main street connecting them Boundaries were demarcated based on; 1. Administration boundary where there is a direct interaction between both areas -mostly from Birzeit and Surda sides 2 The observation of the fuzziness of the built-up area where the fragmentation starts to get inside the fringe 3 The void where land use does not exist and stands between other and-use pans

Main key attributes that typically characterize this peri-urban area are: Disrupted pattern of residential deveopments; ow -density economic activity; incomplete range of urban utilities; lack of and-use pans; and uncoordinated zoning or planning reguations These characteristics shape the rura-urban area lying between the continuously built-up rura and urban areas of Surda Abu Qash and Jifna which can be described as a zone of transition in the urban andscape land use socia and demographic properties

The changes in land use and popuation dynamics of the rural-urban areas have gone towards the increasing demand for and for housing and economic development This has led to an infux of people with different demands for goods and services besides regional and municipa planning policies that alow for the construction of residentia neighborhood developments that are not weintegrated with the surrounding rura or urban areas

This case is implemented to work on a loca scae which wi serve the regions surrounded and connect them together

1 Administration boundary

2 Where fuzziness fragmentation starts

3 Where and use plans do not exist

Birzeit

Jifna

Abu-Qash

Surda

3. 2.

1.

PROBLEM STATEMENT 1

In urban andscape land use socia and demographic properties

meable boundar es il -p anned and piecemeal deve opment

s pattern crossing Jifna masterp an boundary

f urban and rural functions

Host uses that may be unwanted by commun ties

Market actors and developers influencing the future for such areas

Absence of and-use plans for most of the study area

Land-use plans existed are separated each one be ongs to a different local community

Surrounded almost by residentia types A and B with part of residence Vila

Commercia zone is ocated at the ma n entrance of the study site

environmental gap between the peri-urban fringe and urban areas surrounding where it is targeted as a random dump

Loss of green structure

PHOTO 45,6) CONFLCTOF NTEREST LEFT COMMERCALCENTERS,OTHERS GATEDCOMMUNTESDEVELOPMENT SOURCE (RESEARCHERS 2023

3

PHOTO (7, 8): INCOMPLETE RANGE OF LAND-USE PLANS. LEFT: WAREHOUSES AND STORAGE, RIGHT: FARM SOURCE: (RESEARCHERS. 2023).

2

Direct interaction because of the transport route crossing or developers and commercia developments ic activity

PHOTO 45,6) CONFLCTOF NTEREST LEFT COMMERCALCENTERS,OTHERS GATEDCOMMUNTESDEVELOPMENT SOURCE (RESEARCHERS 2023

PHOTO (9, ): GREEN STRUCTURE. HOW URBAN RANDOM DEVELOPMENTS STAND AS A THREAT TO LOSING GREEN STRUCTURE SOURCE: (RESEARCHERS. 2023).

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

METHODOLOGY

The overa objective would be to provide guidance for a land-use deve opment of Jifna Surda and Abu-Qash rural-urban fringe to ensure sustainable and uses along the area

To investigate the pattern and characteristics of the rura -urban fringe development along Jifna Surda and Abu-Qash peri-urban area

To create a guideline p an that wi direct urban development in Jifna Surda and Abu-Qash peri-urban areas towards sustainabi ity by considering the relationship between economic growth and land use

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Through the app ication of the ana ytical framework the study will be able to answer the following questions:

Which planning approaches and strategies can be app ied to direct urban growth in fringe/peri-urban areas towards sustainable deve opment?

To what extent are existing land use p ans and current urban growth patterns adhering to sustainable planning principles?

How can general planning approaches and strategies be adapted for the sustainab e deve opment of Jifna Surda and Abu-Qash?

SITE ANALYSIS

MACROSCALE ANALYSIS - METROPOLITAN SCALE

SITE ANALYSIS

MICROSCALE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

MICROSCALE ANALYSIS

CONCEPT

DESIGN PROCESS

MICRO-SCALE VISION

Planning and design guide ines on how to approach the Peri-urban area regeneration processes

The suggested agenda is divided into 3 phases each composed of 4 actions detai ed with an examp e of site-specific steps

ZONING CONCEPT

DETAILED AREAS SPATIAL MODEL

DETAILED AREAS SPATIAL MODEL

SKETCHES

BIRZEIT OLD TOWN

BIRZEIT OLD TOWN

UNIVERSITY SPOTS

POSTERS FROM HISTORY COURSE

PORTFOLIO

URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN SELECTED WORKS 2018-23

RAHAF ASMAR

BA IN URBAN PLANNING & DESIGN ENGINEERING