الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 190 |  |  |
| | | from | 190 | | |
Abstract
Contemporary urban design, as well as sustainable development calls, pays serious attention to the notion of identity in the urban context. In this regard, this thesis studies the urban identity in Cairo. Globalization and the rapid growth of cities have caused a lack of sense of identity in images of cities as most of them have become similar, repetitive, and monotonous, without meaningful places for people to enjoy the experience of being in them. Identity has become an essential topic on the agendas of planners and designers. Today, the recent monumental urbanization changes in Egyptian cities raise concerns about the identity of their public places, especially in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. So, the urban identity of Cairo, more than other cities, needs an updated study. Since identity is affected by the place’s culture and the nature of the people in it, this study focuses on public places in administrative areas of Greater Cairo.
This study literature provided a deep recognition of place identity definitions by opting for the inductive method of literature and research articles discussing several factors and elements that identify place identity. This study used the descriptive-analytical approach to analyze, compare, and explore the collected information on place identity to present a checklist for place identity components. This checklist divides the identity of the place into three axes: Environment, people, and the interaction between them, under two primary classifications: tangible and intangible. The checklist was validated by surveying experts’ opinions on the importance of these components in creating a place’s identity.
Afterward, the paper empirically analyzed the checklist of place identity components by assessing two case studies. As identity is affected by the place’s culture and the nature of the people in it, this paper focused on public places in administrative areas in Greater Cairo. The two case studies were selected based on three conditions: classified as a public place, located in an administrative area, and existing in the Greater Cairo Region. According to these requirements, the Ministries Square in the downtown area of khedivial Cairo and the governmental district in the new administrative capital were picked. The identity of public places in the case studies was examined according to the checklist of place identity components extracted from the theoretical study.
The field study relied on three sources of data; archives and available documents of those places, site visits (observation), and interviews with experts. According to the results, this study identified the strengths and weaknesses in each assessment category, then presented Identity Enhancing Strategies (IES) to enhance identity. The findings came in three categories, environment-related strategies, people-related strategies, and strategies for the relationship between the place and its people.
Finally, the conclusion states the whole process of the study and spots the significant factors that form the identity of the place. It also presents strategies for enhancing the sense of identity of public places in the administrative areas of Greater Cairo to the officials and decision-makers. After that, the study refuted its limitations to clarify future studies in this field. The added value of this study is that its methodology can be followed to evaluate and develop other places with different functions and characteristics.