8/3/2019 Space Syntax_Jeddah Spatial Planning Framework

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BackgroundSpace Syntax was commissioned bythe Municipality of Jeddah to createa spatial development strategy for the city. Working closely with theMunicipality we have built an evidence-based development strategy anddesign guidelines.

The project covered three potentialscenarios for the whole city anddeveloped proposals for a number of action areas which include an oldairport site, the historic core, centralurban areas, waterfront areas, and

unplanned settlements.

One of the key aims of the proposalwas to rebalance the growth of the cityto the north by strengthening the citycentre and its immediate surroundings.This was achieved by proposing newdevelopments on the old airport site,the central waterfront area and in theunplanned areas surrounding the citycentre.

ChallengesThe most challenging aspect of thisproject was the sheer complexity of the social, cultural, economic andenvironmental issues that had tobe integrated. Jeddah’s populationis extremely diverse, hostingimmigrant communities from theentire Muslim world, as well as thestrong Arabian host culture. Manymigrants are extremely poor, living inpoor conditions in older buildings or unplanned developments.

In order for Jeddah to realise its

potential and benefit from the culturaland social diversity of it population, itis essential that the poorer and moreaffluent segments of the community,and the different ethnic groups bebrought together into an inclusivesociety. The spatial structure of theurban landscape is possibly the mostimportant mechanism at the disposalof planners seeking to achieve theseobjectives.

SolutionSpace syntax analysis techniqueswere used first as a diagnostic toolto understand how the history andevolution of the city’s structure has ledto patterns of density, land use andsocio-economic settlement. The spatialcauses of what are seen as barriersto social cohesion were identifiedand a priority list of objectives for themasterplan that was drawn up.

Next, the analysis was turned intoan option appraisal to allow differentsolution strategies to be tested and

their likely impacts measured. Aspatial strategy and a developmentdensity strategy were defined for thewhole city, including its peripheraldevelopment areas and detailed urbandesign guidelines were defined for each development area.

The Strategic Planning Frameworkhas been adopted by the Municipalityof Jeddah in 2006 and is part of theemerging Jeddah Plan.

Client

Municipality of Jeddah

Location

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Duration

2005-06

Key features of this project

Strategic planning and design

Macro scale planning

Client centred approach

Regional context

Jeddah

Strategic Planning Framework

www.spacesyntax.com

BA

8/3/2019 Space Syntax_Jeddah Spatial Planning Framework

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2

Space SyntaxJeddah Strategic Planning Framework 

D

C

Growth development scenarios of Jeddah by

Space Syntax

D

Strategic land use planning for the centre of 

Jeddah

C

A

Jeddah’s Historic Core

B

A combined spatial and land use measure