See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289794304 Experiential Assessment of Urban Open Spaces in Doha Article in Open House International · December 2013 CITATIONS READS 4 18 3 authors, including: Ashraf M. Salama Fatma Khalfani University of Strathclyde Qatar University 99 PUBLICATIONS 252 CITATIONS 4 PUBLICATIONS 6 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, Available from: Ashraf M. Salama letting you access and read them immediately. Retrieved on: 25 July 2016 EXPERIENTIAL ASSESSMENT OF URBAN OPEN SPACES IN DOHA . Ashraf M. Salama, Fatma Khalfani, and Ahood Al-Maimani Abstract The current fast track urban development process is an important characteristic of the city of Doha. No exploration or examination of its urban spaces, however, has been done before. This paper offers an experiential assessment of three key urban open spaces by examining their spatial and physical characteristics while implementing direct systematic observation and behavioural mapping procedure. Assessment results reveal important outcomes that include absence of physical aspects amenable for effective use while offering a pleasant experience for visitors. The findings contribute to an in-depth understanding of the qualities of the three spaces and the resulting use, activities, and behaviour repre- sentative of the inhabitants' spatial experience in those spaces. While the overall experience of users appear to be sat- isfactory, the results convey that there is an absence of landscape features and a dearth of green spaces and appro- priate outdoor furniture, absence of adequate shaded areas and shading devices and a lack of children’s facilities or specially designated areas for children. Addressing the lack of features that enhance people’s activities and use of these spaces would contribute to making the spaces more conducive for use by different types of users and at different days and times. Keywords: Experiential Assessment, Doha, Urban Open Spaces, Behavioural Mapping. INTRODUCTION is one of the most important considerations that would determine such a future. However, no exam- Doha is undergoing massive urban growth and a ination of urban spaces has been done before nor considerable number of new urban areas are being exploration of whether emerging or transformed developed or transformed. Earlier research on the urban areas are supporting the needs of inhabi- city indicate the city is witnessing dramatic urban tants. transformations (Salama and Gharib, 2012; The availability of attractive, accessible Wiedmann, Salama, and Thierstein, 2012). United open spaces is an important feature of a liveable Nations records point out that it is anticipated that urban environment, for the inhabitants of cities and half of the world’s population will be living in cities urban areas. Such importance is sometimes by year 2025. The city of Doha would surpass that ignored or oversimplified when making decisions extrapolation since more than 80% of Qatar’s pop- about land-use or when discussing the qualities of ulation already resides in the capital. The overall the built form. Urban open spaces in Doha are urban environment is thus becoming more and scattered around the city from its northern periph- more important in the daily lives of over 1.7 million eries to its centre, and in the southwestern periph- inhabitants who live there. The qualities of urban eries. Varying in form, function, and scale, some spaces heavily impact on a wide range of elements spaces are often located within enclave develop- and aspects of daily life such as living conditions, ments, or within larger urban interventions, while entertainment, and the attractiveness and appeal of others represent portions of spaces with dense urban open spaces (Salama and Wiedmann, urban districts or open waterfronts. This paper 2013). examines three key urban spaces that are believed The regional and global importance of to cover a significant range of activities, services, Doha has increased significantly over the past two and cater to people of different socio-economic decades and maintaining and sustaining the cur- and cultural backgrounds. In essence, the objective rent growth of its urban population is seen as criti- is to examine different physical and behavioural cal to the future development of the country. aspects through experiential analysis while applying Hence, enhancing the quality and function of urban a behavioural mapping procedure. The results open spaces and the urban environment as whole uncover several characteristics about use and activ- open house international Vol.38 No.4, December 2013. Experiential Assessment of Urban Open Spaces in Doha . Doha in Spaces Open Urban of Assessment Experiential 2013. December No.4, Vol.38 international house open 4 7 ities of these spaces offer insights into their spatial classification as they include individual gardens and qualities while revealing a number of positive spaces that are clearly demarcated and only acces- aspects and deficiencies, which mandate the need sible to the owners and residents of the property. for careful considerations of the design of future Open spaces from the users’ viewpoint are urban spaces in this rapidly growing city. described as places that allow for a wide spectrum of necessary and/or optional social activities (Gehl, 1987). Necessary activities include going to and NEEDS FOR AND CHAR ACTER ISTICS from workplaces, schools, hospitals and shopping OF URBAN OPEN SPACES areas or markets, while optional activities are exemplified by recreational places where people It is argued that the importance of urban open can enjoy walking, jogging, meditating, sitting, or spaces lies in the fact that they can satisfy certain just enjoying quality leisure time with family and basic human needs as well as offer particular inter- friends. Such activities are dependent on the char- active opportunities to a city’s inhabitants (Woolley, acteristics and qualities of the open space and the 2003). These needs, respond to many features of opportunities available for active or passive human functioning, as for example the need for engagement with the space. In some urban con- physical comfort, relaxation, enjoyment and social texts, however, optional social activities may stimulation; therefore opportunities to concretise become necessary social activities. In this respect, Ashraf M. Salama, Fatma Khalfani, and Ahood Al-Maimani Ahood and Khalfani, Fatma Salama, M. Ashraf and fulfil such needs in open spaces should be five types of needs have been identified to account given paramount consideration by urban planners for inhabitants’ requirements in pubic open spaces; and architects. The examination of the qualities and these include opportunities for comfort, relaxation, features of open spaces in order to determine of passive engagement, active engagement, and dis- whether or not they fulfil such needs may provide covery (Carr, Francis, Rivlin, L. G., and Stone, valuable insight as to why some open spaces are 2012). filled with people while others are eluded or under- Comfort in open spaces represents the used. basic needs for food, drink, and shelter. It can be In physical terms, open spaces can be reasonably stated that without satisfying the need defined by their legal ownership and boundaries. for comfort, it would be hard to imagine that other The perception of who owns the space or has con- needs could be satisfied (Linday, 1978). Yet, in trol over it is an important factor in determining its attempting to enjoy and profit from their time in availability to public access. For example, while open spaces, people sometimes tolerate major dis- some open spaces, such as those within gated comforts such as an army of annoying insects or communities, are exclusive to a specific communi- lack of shading devices. Relaxation represents a ty, a group of individuals, or certain persons, others more developed state of physical and mental ease like public parks are more readily accessible to (Jackson, 1981). Typically, the description of a everyone. Undeniably, the types of open space and space as relaxing refers to the users’ experience their accessibility can promote feelings of inclusion more than to its physical characteristics. However, it or exclusion, as experienced by people of different should be noted that these are interdependent since cultural backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. physical characteristics significantly impact the By classifying open spaces into public, semi-public degree of relaxation in a space. and private spaces, there can be a better under- Passive engagement is the third need for standing of how such spaces are used and by open spaces; this too may lead to a sense of relax- whom (Newman, 1972). Public spaces can be ation. However, passive engagement represents an identified as those spaces available to all city inhab- indirect experience as it involves only the need for itants such as parks, squares, open markets, and interaction with the setting, without active involve- plazas. Semi-public spaces include spaces that ment, as for example, watching a spectacular sun- have limited opening times to the public or are only set, observing a flock of birds or simply enjoying a accessible to a particular group. These include beautiful view in a natural setting. Active engage- school playgrounds or spaces in or surrounding ment is a more direct experience since