TOWN SQUARE FOR THE UAE SUSTAINABLE CITY: A CASE STUDY

ISSAM EZZEDDINE
PhD Student, EGIS, Heriot-Watt University – UK, Email: iee30@hw.ac.uk

AND

DR. ASSEM AL HAJJ

Associate Professor, EGIS, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, Email: A.AL-HAJJ@hw.ac.uk

Abstract

For more than two thousand years, town Squares have formed a unique part of the urban setting for
many cities in the world. While for the last two hundred years more town squares in Europe and North
America cities have been provided in an attempt to build the interaction between people and the square
space, modern cities in the Middle East have been unsuccessful in striking a balance between their
economic needs and the public demand for the square. The UAE, since late 1960’s, has seen a decline
in the relationship between urban town square and people’s interaction. Hasty urban, demographic and
economic growth alongside land privatization process has progressively changed the nature and theme
of town square within the community and widely the city. This paper provides a show case of how a
town square could be introduced into the city’s spatial when policies are formulated for bringing quality
livable space to cities and communities. Structured interviews were conducted with professionals and
decision makers to find out constrains that hold considerations of planning and developing public town
squares within cities and communities. The paper highlights the benefits of town squares and that it is
an essential urban space to users which requires further attention in the planning and design system in
order to create interaction of people with their environment.

Introduction
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for
community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, public
square, piazza, plaza and town green “Wikipedia”. Squares have been a central urban space to the social,
cultural and economic life of cities (Lennard, 2008; O’Conner, 2013). European Squares and Piazzas
provide public space for people to gather, celebrate, and trade in the market place. Planned Squares
appeared in ancient Greece from the 5th century BC. The diffusion among civilizations over space and
time of the idea of incorporating civic spaces into a city plan is elaborated in Zucker (1966), and other
writers such as Cleary (1999) who have focused either on specific Square (Place Royale in France) in
particular countries and cities, or on the merits of open spaces on the quality of life of citizens (Cerver,
2001). In modern cities, plazas have maintained their significance and remain essential spaces for people
to socialize and relax. The first urban formations started appearing at least 6000 years ago. Within urban
areas open public space always existed serving very important purposes. Along with the development of
human society and the development of cities, the squares acquired more and more functions. At first, the
old squares were established at the crossroads of important trade routes where exchange of goods as well
as several trades took place. Another very important function of the town square was that it served as an
opportunity for rulers to demonstrate military might. Later the square became a location for royal courts,
government buildings and city halls as manifestations of wealth and power as well as a place of festivity
and gathering events. There has been an increasing awareness of, and focus on the significant value of
public space (Woolley et al.: cited in Carmona 2010).

History and Rationale

For the last two hundred years, more of town squares in European and North America cities are being
provided in an attempt to build the interaction between people and the square space (Gruen and Smith,
1960,p. 24). Figure 1 shows a town square in Florence, Italy. The cities in the Middle East have
endeavored to replicate this experience. The efforts to balance the economic needs and demands of the
public have met with success as well as failure (Rabbat, 2012).

Figure 1: Piazza della Signoria, in Florence, Italy

City planners have been primarily concerned with such problems as the proper use of land, the
improvement of traffic and general communication, etc. (Peter, 1968). The considerations have somewhat
over-shadowed the importance of the square as a basic factor in town planning, at the very heart of the
city (Zucker, 1959). According to the sociologist Jurgen Habermas’ concept of the “Urban Square” is the
place where people talk about life: “We mean first of all a realm of our social life in which something
approaching public opinion can be formed. Access is guaranteed to all citizens”. (Habermas et al, 1974,
P.49). The Town Square as a public realm has also interested Hannah Arendt (1958), who argued in her
book “The Huamn Condition”, one of her Central theoretical works, that the public square is the space of
appearance where “everything that appears in public can be seen and heard by everybody and has the
widest possible publicity” (Arendt, 1998, p.50), other authors argue that distinction between public and
private urban squares must be considered (Fraser, 1989 cited in Madanipour, 1996). There are many
alternative way of classifying what is or is not public or private square, where it is publicly or privately
owned; whether there are restrictions on when or how it is used (Tibbald, 1992). Another important work
to mention is Jan Gehl (1987) studies of different city squares, which focused on public space as the actual
physical 5conditions provided for pedestrians and public life as the activities that depend on the presence
of others in public spaces (Gehl, 1987, p.14). To summarize, despite the different definitions of authors,
town squares regardless of size, function or type, they all are important as they provide many benefits for
the city: social, ecological and urban (Gehl, 1987, Tibbald, 1992, Thompson, 2002, Carmona and Tisdell,
2007).
 Davis (1989) measured the quality of life in a city through its public squares and the extent to which they
are successful in providing places where people love to go and enjoy being in. The urban designer John
Ruskin wrote: “The measure of any great civilization is in its cities, and a measure of a city’s greatness
is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and its squares” (Cited in Cowan, 2005, p.314).
Despite the misty-eyed memory that many people have their towns or village green, the plain truth is
that most of our cities no longer have a good central, civic square (Kent et al, 2001, p.66). According to
Kent, the challenges these squares face are similar. Often, the traffic that passes by them is too fast and
the streets that surround them are too wide to create an atmosphere conducive to walking and gathering.
Banerjee (2001) asserts that the space dedicated to town square is shrinking. The future of these spaces
must confront three challenges privatization, globalization and communication.

Alexander et al, (1977) explained that the square is a pattern that forms the core which makes an activity
node, it can also help to generate a node by its mere existence, provided that it is correctly placed along
the intersection of the paths which people use most often. Figure 2 shows a Google Map of a semi-
regular shape Old Town Square in the city of Madrid. Putnam (1995, 1996) has also argued that since
World War II there has been a steep decline in the civic spirit in European cities. He attributes this decline
to the growing exposure to television (and today to the revolution of internet). In the same vein Banerjee
(2001) analyzes his viewpoint that the steady decline in the quality and supply of urban squares, is a
foundation for general decline of social interaction that contributes to the livability of cities and
communities.

Figure 2: Semi regular shape Old Town Square – Madrid

Square Archetypes and Classifications

The appearance of each individual square represents a blend of topographical, climatic and national factors.
Although squares of certain types reveal in certain periods general space volume relations are independent
of particular historical forms. There exist basic types of squares that appear again and again. The specific
function of the square, for example, as a market square or as a traffic center never produces automatically
a definite spatial form. Each different function may be expressed in many different shapes. Many squares
have changed their function in time. These developments prove that the archetypes are structural, that they
are spatially, not functionally defined. Archetypes as classified by different architect and planners. These
types are listed in table 1 below:
Table 1: Classification of Town Squares

SQUARE CATEGORY EXAMPLE SKETCH

Closed Square: space self- contained
(Place des Vosges, Paris, 1605-1612)
Characterized by complete enclosure,
broken only by those streets leading into
it.

Dominated Square: space directed

(Piazza San Marco, Venice , Italy)
Marked by being directed towards one
building or group of buildings.

Nuclear Square: space formed around

the center (Piazza di SS. Giovanni e
Paolo with Verocchio’s Colleoni
monument, Venice)
Space is formed around a central statue,
fountain, or other vertical accent (Myers
2011).
Grouped Squares: space units
combined (Salzburg Cathedral,
Austria)
A combination of spatial units. A
sequence of squares, different in size
and form, could develop in only one
direction, thus establishing a straight
axis. (Montana State University, 2012)
Amorphous Square: space unlimited
(Place deL ’Opera , Paris)
A kind of catch-all for the squares with
some of the previous categories’
characteristics, without achieving the
same sensation of cohesiveness
necessary to qualify for those. (Zucker,
1959)

This paper is the second in a series of papers reporting on a research study aiming to review the modern
UAE city for public spaces. It investigates the impact of introducing a town square to an existing design
plan and further highlights the roles it plays in transforming the demography of a community, its social
life and how it can enhance the livable environments that interact with the public.

The main research advocates actions and new planning that will help to create a place for the community.
The main objective is to provide evidence for the need of such a truly sustainable place from social,
economic, and cultural perspectives. The study will develop a conceptual framework and strategy for
building environmentally sustainable town square in the UAE city. It aims to recommend new technology
and contemporary innovation for achieving sustainable, multi-functional spaces in the UAE cities. These
spaces will provide a sense of community and improve the social, economic and cultural image of the town
square. The study will determine the properties and attributes of developing, planning and constructing
new, sustainable town squares for UAE cities.

Town Squares in the UAE Modern Cities

In the UAE, there has been a “decline” since the late 1960 in the predominant relationship of urban town
squares and the interaction of people “Architectural Heritage Design, Dubai Municipality” (AHDDM,
2010). According to Bukhash (2012), 2300 heritage houses and buildings were demolished between1950-
1980. This unplanned wave of demolishing gradually ended after the sudden awareness of UAE
Government decision makers that UAE cities start losing their heritage identity and culture values (Figure
3 & 4).

This research emphasizes that Town Square in the UAE cities are almost neglected in the urban planning
design strategy. Planners, architects and urban designer have not prioritized this urban element in their
urban studies and master plan layouts. Developers and properties owners are not yet encouraged to provide
such space in their new developed properties, their preference is to have more buildings and dwelling units.
Given this background, this study is proposed with the aim of understanding the nature of emerging Town
Square with its community to achieve sustainable friendly environmental space. The research also focuses
on the importance of the role that new planning strategy and guidelines for architects and urban planners
as a support, to superimpose the town square as an essential part of the master plan body.

In addition, the new urban studies of cities and communities are facing challenges in achieving sustainable
development for their urban spaces such as parks, squares and landscaped areas (Al Ansari, 2009). The
term “Sustainable” is used nowadays for more urban regeneration projects. Yet, without a certain rationale,
determining the sustainability principles and also framing the limits and the limitations of certain area, it
is not possible to create sustainable urban space / square (Alexander et al, 1977). This research propose
systematic approach in sustainable regeneration of urban town square in UAE cities which widen the angle
of interaction between this urban space and its users. Such interaction cannot be achieved without
constructive strategy and measurable sustainability criteria.

Sustainable development made prominent by the World Commission on Environment and Development
(WCED), is defined as “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generation to meet own needs” (WCED, 1987). The UK government puts it even more simply:
“Sustainable Development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations
to come.” (Barton, 2003). The Brudtland Commission’s brief definition of sustainable development as the
“ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations’. The definition however is general, providing the direction,
but open to varying interpretation (Kates, Parris & Leiserowitz, 2005, P.10). Sustainability criteria and
regulations in the UAE start playing significant role in the new building design and construction but still
lacking the urban planning sustainable development and the initiatives of clients, developers and decision
makers to drive the urban sustainability in parallel to the construction movement. The UAE is considered
a leading country among other Middle East regions in term of promoting green building and sustainable
development.

During the last two decades, several sustainability assessment and rating systems have been developed for
the building sector such as LEED and BREEAM, with neglected focus on urban spaces sustainability
(McGraw–Hill, 2013). Estidama, the Arabic word for sustainability is the sustainability initiative of the
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (AUPC), (Al Tamimi & Co.). Abu Dhabi’s plan 2030 establishes a
clear vision for sustainability as the foundation of any new development occurring in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi. The purpose of Estidama is to create a new sustainability framework that will direct the current
course of development while allowing adaptation as new understanding evolves (AUPC, 2010).

Figure 3: .Bastakiya Area- Old Dubai (Google View) Figure 4:.Bastakiya Old Town Layout – Dubai

Public squares have been identified to enhance social interaction and cultural opportunities by providing
accessible spaces for people to gather, interact and socialize (Gehl, 1987). They also support local
economies much more than accessible gathering spaces, with the ability to support local business, attract
new business investment and boost tourism (O’Conner, 2013). Finally, they improve environmental
outcomes when priority is given to people over vehicle transportation movement. Whether people are
walking, cycling or commuting by transit, town squares provide a place of refuge where automobiles are
either banned or given secondary status. As such, the creation of comfortable and safe town squares can
help enhance the pedestrian realm and thereby encourage more sustainable means of transportation.
Studies made by the Greenest City 2020 Scholar Program have shown that squares around the world
have been directly responsible for increased levels of pedestrian activities and public transportation use
in the surrounding areas away from the square zone. This, in turn, can help a city reduce its vehicle
related pollution.

Al Nassir Square is one of the examples of old squares located at the Old Souk area of Dubai on the creek
side. It used to be the destination of traders, Pearl Sailors, as well a gathering place for people to celebrate
their festival days. Currently, the square is a network of roads and staggered parking areas integrated with
little soft and hard landscaping elements. The square has lost its social value and became parking space for
trading and shopping purposes (Figure 5 & 6).
 Figure 5: Al Nassir Square, Al Ras Old Souk, Figure 6: Al Nassir Square location Map, Dubai
Dubai

In some communities and cities in the Arab world, the existing Town Square has lost its cultural and social
values for being a public area for gathering, entertainment, social and commercial space Al Shindagha and
Al-Ras Old Town areas in Dubai is an example (Figure 7 & 8 ).

Figure 7: Old Town Square connected to narrow Figure 8 : Al Ras Old Town – Dubai
passageways – Dubai

Instead the lack of wise urban planning have transformed a town square to either a commercial intersection
of main roads dominated by car movement or used as parking lots to serve the trading side. As a result the
town square has been converted from a social place with rich and lively public space into an area supporting
transportation movement and service yards, but lacking social life interaction.

A close look into the United Arab Emirates main cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and others that
have grown up considerably in the past six decades, these cities have lost the heritage theme of the ‘Old
Town Square’ or what is known in Arabic as “AL SAHA, AL BARAHA” or “Fereej” area which is
surrounded by the houses and reached by narrow pathways “SIKKA”. The old Town Square was the area
of entertainment, social collaboration and market space for the residents within a pedestrian friendly
environment. Al Shindagah and Al Bastakiyah are two areas in Dubai containing few old Town Squares
remaining after the restoration plan launched at the end of the seventies. There is therefore a need to
understand the nature of emerging Town Square with its community to achieve sustainable friendly
environmental space.

There are currently four major groups identified as the key actors for successful collaboration in policy
or decision making for achieving sustainable town square in UAE city. These are the:
1. Government (local authorities, municipalities and government departments).
2. Developers and private sectors.
3. Architects, Urban and Community Planners.
4. The community users and public

Research Methodology
This study is the preliminary pilot work conducted for the research study on an existing design for a part
of an existing in Dubai. The study starts with the amendment of an existing master plan which does not
have the Town Square feature into a new plan that incorporates this feature. Then the opinion of
professionals and clients in relation to the impact of change in design made to the existing plan can make
on the overall economic, social and environmental value of the urban space. Structured interviews were
held with 12 professionals including architects and planners in consultancy design firms and public sector
officials. Some of those interviewed were directly involved in the case study under consideration. In
addition, a policy maker at legislative level was interviewed to explore the point of view of such a key
stakeholder in the decision making process. Moreover, representatives from the key public authorities in
connection with the case study were interviewed. Interviewees were emailed in advance to introduce them
to the research topic and to request an appointment. Interviews lasted from 30 to 45 minutes. Interviews
were recorded and then analyzed in depth through examining each question separately. Questions started
with an evaluation of the existing design, then finding out the opinion about the added value a town square
may bring into the quality of life.

CASE STUDY: INTERNATIONAL CITY PHASE 3 (ICP3) – DUBAI, U.A.E.

Introduction to the International City in Dubai

Until recently, UAE cities have experienced an unprecedented level of urban growth. More than15 new
cities have been developed in Dubai between 2001 and 2014. The one dominating common feature between
them is the severe lack of public and community squares for people to interact and enjoy outdoor gathering
and entertainment.

The International City is one of Dubai-based communities (See Figure 9 for location). The Phase 3 of the
City (ICP3) design, shown in Figure 10, is intended to address the needs of its residents by providing a
desirable and sustainable place to live, learn, interact, socialize, work and recreate.
 Figure 9: International City ICP3 location (0ne of Figure 10: ICP3 Urban Planning (original
15 new cities in Dubai) master plan)

The 731 hectare site in Nad Al Sheba is a vacant parcel located just south of Nakheel’s International City
Phase I in the Nad Al Sheba/Warsen 1 District 630, southwest of Dubai. The site incorporate International
City Phase 3 which has been master planned as a previous exercise based on a concentric configuration of
purchasable plots. The public environment includes the city’s streets, parks, community, facilities and
infrastructure that should inspire plot purchasers to build developments within ICP3 which addresses ‘best
practice’ and innovation in all areas of design. Plot developers will be directed and aided by the
Development Code prepared to (ICP3) area as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 11: ICP3 Aerial View Image Figure 12: The Case Study Area

The brief defined by Nakheel for the project embodies the principles of variety, quality, lifestyles and
affordability with an added emphasis on public transport, walkable neighborhoods and the creation of focal
places for social gatherings.

This study focuses on the use of different public spaces and parks in the (ICP3) master plan without
consideration for town square integration to the plot urban planning. The case study, provides an
examination of the importance of creating a town square as focal point to ICP3 communities and to analyze
how social interactions and people motivation arise when town square is used as their livable place.
Ezzeddine and Al-Hajj (2014) conducted a study on how communities are affected by the provision of
town squares in the urban space. The study concluded that residents, visitors and people from different
ethnicities and socioeconomic groups and people of different ages and abilities were positively influenced
by the existing squares and/or being added to the space.

Existing Planning Features:

The master plan of (ICP3) is complete with detailed drawings ready for the implementation stage. The
project launch was delayed following the global recession of 2008. The authority in Dubai is ready to start
the project again. The existing urban plan of ICP3 does not feature any central town square theme. The
central square is not amongst the 12 different land uses listed in ICP3 such as low, mid and high rise
residential buildings, parks, community facilities, communication centers, and so forth. See Figure 13.

Figure 13: Existing ICP3 Planning

The following observations are pertinent to the negative impact the current plan may have on the social
structure in ICP3:

 The circular spot in the master plan (Figure 14) is a focal area with high rise residential buildings
with high population density surrounded by roads from all sides. The central area is controlled by
traffic signals at intersections contributing to increasing traffic and pollution and an environment
unsafe for all.
 The master plan consists of massive roads and streets network which restricts pedestrian
movements making it inconvenient to move freely.
 Lack of a central square that links different communities together.
 Open spaces and green areas form only 2.5% of the total land use, negatively impacting on
people’s interaction with their livable place (Figure 15).
 The high rise land use is centralized in a narrow spot leading to congested streets and disability to
access individual plots.
 Lack of parking spaces to serve a high density area such as this.
Figure 14: ICP3 Existing Land Use Zoning

Figure 15: ICP3 Land Use Various Percentage

Proposed New Plan

The study introduced an adjustment to the existing (ICP3) master plan. The main adjustment is in featuring
a new central town square for ICP3 communities in place of the focal tower building spot. The changes
are shown in Figure 16. The purpose of the new planning to the central circular area as a case study is to
examine and investigate people’s feedback and reaction to the new proposal in comparison with the current
master plan status. The main features for the new proposal identified as follows:

 Provision of a people’s town square freely accessible for all inhabitants

 Provision of space for social gathering, recreational commercial functions, leisure and cultural
facilities.
 Provision of sustainable environment away from vehicular traffic, pollution and noise.
  Relocate the high rise density buildings at the sides of ICP3 and replacement of low and mid rise
use to take place (Figure 17).
 Provision of a large underground parking area below the square to allow safe parking and easy
vertical accessibility to the square without people having to cross roads/streets.
 Direct access to town square through pedestrian walkway without vehicle crossing confrontation.
 Increase the landscape green zone, entertainment and leisure facilities.

Figure 16: New Proposed Planning (With Town Square)

Figure 17: ICP3 New Proposed Planning- Indicative Section through the Central Square

A series of interview were conducted in January 2014 in order to gather feedback from architects, planners
and decision makers with regards to the adjustments made to the plan and to test their satisfaction with the
new proposal to ICP3. 80% of the 12 people interviewed expressed satisfaction with the new plan. The
majority of interviewees shared the same opinion on the significant role a central square can play in
improving the social and economic environment and interaction between families and different users of
the city. From the comparison study between the original planning and the new proposal, those interviewed
were highly dissatisfied with the lack of gathering places, green spaces and outdoor playfields. In addition,
75% of them were satisfied with the new proposal in providing a central Square at the circular zone of
ICP3, vacating the square zone from vehicles movement and sealing the parking area to the underground
level of the square. The buildings around the square are set and relocated to grant the majority of dwelling
units to overlook the central square.

The above findings are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of this research work. The main purpose of
this research is to highlight the importance and essential factors for developing or redeveloping
environmentally sustainable Town Square for UAE cities.

This research is guided by the thought that the sought Town Square is not simply a physical object in the
space, but an agent that provides the means to change people’s living. People are the prime factor for
developing sustainable Town Squares as it will focus on the integration of people’s behavior, daily life and
their entertainment in the space. The research eventually aims to achieve the development of consolidated
strategies and policies for environmental sustainability through town square development as it becomes
part of the urban plan that protects the bond between people and their Town Square. In addition the study
will facilitate more sustainable social practices and understanding of how the built environment and social
practices influence each other to achieve a sustainable space.

It is imperative that decision makers work on accommodating new policies and changes in the urban space
by the year 2020 when the Dubai Expo launches its torch. For a city to be livable, it should be sustainable
for its communities. This entails continued and enhanced efforts to increase the rate of success towards
sustainable community. Build partnership with community people to achieve their sustainable town square
as their second home. Develop indications to measure sustainability of UAE city. Finally, ensure public
safety, good governance and community stakeholder participation as essential needs to town square users.

Conclusions

Town Squares and Urban Space have been an integral part of the urban layout of cities around the world
throughout history. Communities and governments have used such spaces in order to enhance amenity.
Commonly, people from different backgrounds and in different living environments have indicated a
preference for the Central Square concept in the design of buildings. The desire to have central square
concepts is driven by the sense of comfort it provides users. Clients, designers, government authorities and
other stakeholders involved in the decision making process of development should recognize and apply
the concept of central square in their brief and/or regulations.

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