Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs (JCUA - Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa Üniversitesi)
Not a member yet
250 research outputs found
Sort by
Shaping Tourism Strategies through Local Perceptions: A Case Study of Muharraq
Full text linkBahrain, a longstanding tourist destination in the Gulf region, has seen its economy benefit significantly from tourism. However, the improper development of tourism has led to negative impacts on urban tourism in historic areas, risking the loss of authenticity. This study aims to explore factors influencing the development of tourism strategies in Muharraq city, focusing on residents\u27 perceptions. A qualitative approach was used, including a comprehensive literature review, interviews with residents to capture their views on tourism-related issues, and a self-administered questionnaire with key officials and stakeholders. The study identifies critical factors affecting tourism development and offers recommendations for enhancing cultural tourism in Muharraq. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to create sustainable strategies that balance economic growth with cultural preservation, ensuring that Muharraq remains a culturally vibrant city while promoting sustainable urban tourism. This research contributes to the broader field of urban tourism studies by highlighting the importance of local perceptions and participatory approaches in shaping effective tourism policies. By addressing key elements that influence tourism development, the study supports the creation of strategies that safeguard heritage while fostering sustainable growth in one of Bahrain\u27s most culturally significant cities
Gender Disparity and Housing Development: Examining Socioeconomic Barriers and Policy Solutions in Nigeria
Full text linkGender disparity (GD) significantly impacts housing development, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, where socioeconomic and cultural barriers constrain equitable housing access. This study investigates the features and effects of GD on housing development in Iwo Central Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. Using a mixed-method approach, data were collected from 328 respondents through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including indices and ANOVA. Key findings highlight societal mindsets as the most influential feature of GD, followed by lack of bodily autonomy and employment equality, with respective relative significance indices (RSIs) of 4.23, 4.06, and 4.00. Denied access to housing and homelessness emerged as the most critical effects of GD, with effects indices (EGDIs) of 4.36 and 4.31. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between GD characteristics and housing development (F = 99.964, p = 0.04), emphasizing the pervasive impact of GD on housing equity. The study concludes that GD restricts women\u27s access to adequate housing, perpetuating socioeconomic inequalities. Recommendations include promoting gender-responsive housing policies, enhancing women\u27s access to affordable housing finance, and integrating gender equity into urban planning and housing design. Addressing GD is crucial for fostering inclusive, equitable, and sustainable housing development in Nigeria
Advancing Zero-Carbon Cities through Urban Green Infrastructure in Karaj, Iran
Full text linkUrban areas in semi-arid regions face rising thermal stress and carbon emissions due to rapid densification and scarce vegetation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) in mitigating these challenges in District one of Karaj, Iran, within a zero-carbon city framework. To address limited evidence on microscale modeling in arid contexts, satellite-based time series analysis was combined with ENVI-met simulations. Environmental indicators including CO (Sentinel-5P) as a proxy for CO₂, Land Surface Temperature (LST, Landsat-8), and vegetation cover (NDVI, MODIS) were extracted via Google Earth Engine for October 2024 to March 2025. Two scenarios were examined: Scenario A as current conditions, and Scenario B with green roofs, vegetated walls, moss, and microalgae panels. Scenario B achieved a 4.6% reduction in CO₂, from 441.8 to 421.4 ppm, an NDVI increase of 0.17 (0.21 to 0.38), and a district-wide temperature decrease of 4.1 °C. Calibration yielded a root mean square error of 1.7 °C for temperature and ±6.3 ppm for CO₂. These interventions improve environmental performance and socio-economic resilience through public health gains, lower energy costs, and equitable green access. Findings highlight hybrid greening strategies as effective for advancing climate resilience and provide a replicable model for zero-carbon interventions in semi-arid cities
Influence of the Mass Rapid Transit System on Plotted Residential Property Prices: A Case Study of Gurugram, India
Full text linkMass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) are increasingly recognised as critical drivers of urban transformation, particularly in rapidly urbanising cities at the Global level. However, empirical research on their influence on plotted residential property markets in emerging urban contexts remains limited. This study investigates the socio-economic impact of the Delhi Metro Line extension in Gurugram, India, across the various phases of the metro project. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines a hedonic price modelling of 300 residential properties from 2007 to 2024 with qualitative surveys and spatial analysis. The study measures "proximity premiums" and contextualises them through stakeholder perspectives. The results indicate that properties within 500 metres of a metro station experienced price growth of 20–25% after project announcement and around 30% post-operation, relative to earlier trends. These effects are highly localized, with premiums diminishing beyond 1km and disappearing beyond 1.5-2km. The hedonic model confirmed distance to the nearest station as a key determinant of price with an average 12% price decrease per kilometre (p < 0.01), along with other influential variables like plot size, proximity to the CBD, and highway access. The model showed strong explanatory power (R² ≈ 0.64). The findings reveal that MRTS can substantially enhance residential property prices but also influence the spatial distribution of economic opportunities, potentially intensifying socio-economic disparities if unregulated. This paper advances the debate on land value capture in Indian cities, offering evidence-based recommendations for equitable urban development strategies in the context of contemporary urbanisation
Superblock Urbanism in Dhaka as a Sustainable Redevelopment Strategy for Tejgaon Industrial Area
Full text linkDhaka’s rapid urbanisation has intensified challenges of fragmented land use, congestion, and environmental decline, particularly in the Tejgaon Industrial Area (TIA), once designated for light industry but now marked by unregulated mixed-use growth. This study examines the superblock model as a sustainable redevelopment framework for TIA, aiming to integrate density management, mobility, and environmental resilience. A mixed-methods approach combined GIS-based spatial analysis, traffic observations, policy review of the Detailed Area Plan (2022–2035) and Building Construction Rules (2008), and participatory design workshops. Insights from 151 residents, workers, and students informed scenario testing across three models: plot-based, block-based, and superblock development. Findings show that superblocks reduce congestion by diverting traffic to peripheral roads, enhance permeability with 44% more permeable surfaces compared to block-based schemes, and allocate nearly 50% of land for open and public spaces. These outcomes highlight the potential of superblock urbanism to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 11, 13, and 15), improving walkability, public health, and climate resilience. The study concludes that superblocks provide a scalable planning strategy for Dhaka’s transformation and for other fast-growing urban contexts
Evaluating the Discontinuation of India’s Supply-Side Affordable Housing Policy for Slum Redevelopment Through Frank Fischer’s Lens
No full textIndia’s In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban was terminated in September 2024 after delivering barely one-quarter of its sanctioned dwellings. This study interrogates that discontinuation through Frank Fischer’s four-tier public-policy framework, integrating secondary data, national audits and 109 household surveys across four ISSR sites in Ahmedabad. Contextual analysis confirms that ISSR targeted a genuine housing deficit in agglomerated labour markets, yet technical verification reveals only 23 % completion and persistent infrastructure gaps. Situational validation highlights post-occupancy cost spirals, dysfunctional resident-welfare associations and a statistically significant link (χ² = 53.4, p < 0.001) between governance quality and maintenance-fee compliance. Societal vindication exposes vertical “poverty traps”: 62 % of households face higher living expenses and 41 % report lost informal livelihoods. Ideological review finds the developer-led model over-estimated land-value capture and under-valued community stewardship, echoing global evidence from Jakarta and Cairo. The study concludes that ISSR’s failure stems from misaligned economic incentives, weak institutional capacity and neglect of behavioural adaptation. Re-imagined supply-side programmes must pair incremental upgrading and portable subsidies with enforceable post-occupancy governance to preserve agglomeration benefits while ensuring social equity. Findings offer transferable lessons for secondary Indian cities planning future slum-housing interventions
How Do Socio-Cultural and Built Environment Characteristics Influence Urban Vitality and Walkability in Bahrain’s Commercial Streets? Insights from Muharraq
Full text linkShopping streets serve as vital socio-economic and cultural hubs, fostering urban vitality and enhancing liveability. In Bahrain, however, limited attention has been paid to how socio-cultural dynamics and built environment characteristics shape walkability within commercial avenues. This study investigates these interrelationships through a case study of Shaikh Hamad Avenue in Muharraq, one of Bahrain’s oldest shopping streets. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected via 135 structured questionnaires, systematic on-site observations, and GIS-based mapping of pedestrian movement patterns. The findings reveal that walkability perceptions are significantly influenced by five determinants: imageability, enclosure, human scale, complexity, and safety. Elements such as shade provision, shop diversity, and spatial connectivity were found to encourage pedestrian activity, whereas inadequate crossings and climatic constraints hinder walkability. Results highlight the importance of integrating culturally sensitive design, pedestrian-oriented infrastructure, and micro-scale amenities into planning strategies. The study contributes evidence-based insights for policymakers and urban designers to enhance commercial street environments, promoting inclusive, dynamic, and sustainable urban spaces in Bahrain and similar Gulf contexts
The Urban Sensory Ambiance of Batroun’s Old Patrimonial Souk in the Face of Overtourism
Full text linkThe old patrimonial souk of Batroun, in northern Lebanon, is undergoing deep change due to overtourism. Once a center for local trade and crafts, the souk has shifted since the early 2000s toward tourism and commercial entertainment. This change has disrupted its multisensory ambiance, altering how long-term residents perceive, use, and emotionally connect with space. While efforts to preserve heritage are underway, they often focus more on visual and economic appeal than on lived experience, causing tension between cultural preservation and tourist development. This study fills a gap in heritage and urban studies by using Jean-Paul Thibaud’s “commented city walks” method to explore how residents describe and sense these changes. Fieldwork shows that residents increasingly feel dislocation and solastalgia as daily social rituals and sensory familiarity fade in favor of overtourism. The research adds to the growing field of urban sensory studies by demonstrating how sensory perception can help identify cultural loss in heritage sites. It also highlights the need for participatory, sensory-based planning approaches that consider the lived experiences of local communities. By viewing sensory co-construction as a potential bridge between tourism and preservation, the study promotes more inclusive urban transformation models. By foregrounding lived and actual urban sensory experiences, this research not only contributes to the field of urban sensory studies but also aligns with the journal’s aim of examining the socio-economic effects of modern urban transformation driven by overtourism, suggesting pathways toward more inclusive and resilient futures in heritage settings
Ethno-sustainability of an Indigenous Architecture in the Northern Philippines Using Grounded Theory
Full text linkThis study investigates the ethno-sustainability of Itawit architecture as a distinctive indigenous practice in the Cagayan province of Northern Philippines. Employing a qualitative grounded theory approach, data were gathered through ethnographic interviews, field observations, and archival research with building owners, carpenters, shamans, and elders from Middle and Southern Cagayan. Using coding, memoing, and thematic analysis, the research thematised vernacular construction practices and knowledge systems, framing them as integral components of cultural heritage and community resilience. Findings demonstrate that Itawit architecture embodies sustainable principles through locally sourced materials, ritual practices, and collective labour systems such as ivvet (community construction). Despite modernisation pressures and the adoption of permanent materials, traditional ecological knowledge and oral transmission continue to sustain building practices and cultural identity. The study highlights “ethno-sustainability” as a framework wherein spiritual beliefs, environmental sensitivity, and social contracts interconnect to preserve community resilience. Documentation of terms, visual records, and rituals provides a baseline reference for conservationists, policymakers, and urban planners. Integrating these indigenous practices into contemporary planning contributes to culturally inclusive and environmentally sustainable development in the Philippines and beyond
Formalisation of the Informal: Can Vertical Community Spaces Enable Equitable High-Density Slum Upgrades in Bangkok?
No full textBy 2050, nearly 68% of the global population will reside in urban areas, while 1.6 billion people already inhabit informal settlements lacking tenure security, basic services, and public space. This study explores whether vertically integrated community spaces can enable medium- to high-rise slum upgrading in Bangkok, where land scarcity constrains conventional low-rise approaches. A research-by-design methodology, conducted through a postgraduate studio in collaboration with a local community, informs the investigation. Spatial analysis, mapping, and participatory processes guided the development of modular walk-up block proposals, featuring stacked semi-public ‘streets-in-the-sky’ and compact communal spaces. These configurations offer vertical social interaction zones, economic potential via shophouses above ground level, and environmental benefits through enhanced daylight penetration and cross ventilation. Findings indicate an improved sense of belonging, social cohesion, and place identity despite vertical displacement. Vertically shared spaces demonstrate capacity to align high-density urban forms with evolving informal practices, providing a replicable, climate-responsive model for inclusive regeneration in rapidly urbanising contexts across the Global South