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Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt

Received: 25 January 2017     Accepted: 8 February 2017     Published: 1 March 2017
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Abstract

The present study focuses on transforming leftover spaces and deserted streets into pocket parks, in order to enhance the quality of life in distressed neighborhoods. The aim of the study is to design a pocket park that meets the users’ needs and behaviors. The first step is to identify key design parameters for designing a successful pocket park, which would provide a space for recreation, socialization in addition to adding greenery to the condensed neighborhood. A space is selected in a high-density district, In Cairo City. The research methods included a survey of the physical environment, observation and a questionnaire. The local residents are asked to assess the current problems in the space, and express their priorities. Moreover, the participants suggested the design components of the new park and what types of activities should the park host. The findings show that safety, lighting, and maintenance are the main priorities for the nearby residents. Furthermore, the society’s social and cultural norms have a profound impact on the final product.

Published in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12
Page(s) 51-60
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pocket Parks, Parks in Cairo, Public Participation, Mini Park

References
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[2] Ming, L. (2014). Investigating The Small Public Urban Open Spaces At High-Density Cities: A Case Study Of Hong Kong. Master Thesis In Sustainable Development, Uppsala University, Sweden.
[3] Peschardt, K. (2014): Health Promoting Pocket Parks In A Landscape Architectural Perspective. Department Of Geosciences And Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen.
[4] Pingying, L. (2014). Summer Microclimate and Use of Pocket Parks in High-Rise High-Density Developments in Hong Kong. The Tenth International Conference Environmental, Cultural, and Social Sustainability, The University of Split, Croatia, Volum 10.
[5] Snow, M. and Kenton, A. (2013). Parameters Contributing to The Design of a Successful Urban Pocket Park. 29th Conference, Sustainable Architecture for a Renewable Future, Munich, Germany.
[6] Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (2015). IPl Project Greenspace, Westminster Pocket Park. Retrieved September (2015) from http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/project-greenspace/westminster-pocket-park/
[7] Smith, B. (2005). Recreating a Successful Neighborhood Pocket Park -A Proposal For Mandaville Court Park. Master thesis in Urban and Rural Planning, Dalbousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
[8] Stephen, L., Pingying, L. and Hao, Q. (2012). A Preliminary Study On Environmental Performances Of Pocket Parks in High-Rise And High-Density Urban Context In Hong Kong. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Vol. 7 Issue 3, p215.
[9] Council Policy (1990). Vest Pocket Park Development. City Of San Diego, California.
[10] LeFlore A. (2012). Increasing Urban Open Space Through Pocket Parks. Master thesis, Urban and Environment Policy and Planning Department, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA.
[11] Danish Architecture Centre (2015). Copenhagen - Pocket Parks, A Drop Of Urban Green. Retrieved September (2015) from http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities/all-cases/green-city/copenhagen---pocket-parks-a-drop-of-urban-green/
[12] National Recreation and Park Association (2012). Creating Mini-Parks for Increased Physical Activity, USA.
[13] Ikin, K., Beaty, M., Lindenmayer, D., Knight, E., Fischer, J., and Manning, A. (2012). Pocket Parks In A Compact City: How Do Birds Respond To Increasing Residential Density? Landscape Ecology Journal, Volume 28, Issue 1, pp 45-56.
[14] Abd El Aziz, N. (2012). Designing and Managing Urban Parks to Improve the Quality of Life in the Egyptian Cities. Doctoral Thesis, Cairo University.
[15] Susdrain (2015). Derbyshire Street Pocket Park, London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Retrieved September (2015) from http://www.susdrain.org/case-studies/case_studies/derbyshire_street_pocket_park_london_borough_tower_hamlets_1.html
[16] Victoria Walks (2015). Case Study, Pocket Parks, Yarra Pocket Parks. Victoria, Australia, Retrieved September (2015) from http://www.victoriawalks.org.au/pocket_parks/
[17] Klok J. (2013). Participatory Design and Public Space: Catalysts for Community Development A Case Study in Barrio Grenada, Master Thesis, University of Guelph. Canada.
[18] Anuar M., and Saruwono M. (2013). Obstacles of Public Participation in the Design Process of Public Parks, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, Journal of Asian Behavioral Studies, Volume 3, Number 8.
[19] EPA (2016). Public Participation Guide: Introduction to Public Participation. What is Public Participation? Retrieved April (2016) from https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/public-participation-guide-introduction-public-participation
[20] Triman, J. (2012). Pocket Park Research: Small Public Urban Green Spaces, In Copenhagen. Denmark, Biophilic Cities Project, Retrieved September (2015) from http://biophiliccities.org/pocket-parks-research-small-public-urban-green-spaces-spugs-in-copenhagen-denmark/
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Noha Ahmed Abd El Aziz. (2017). Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt. Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, 2(2), 51-60. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12

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    ACS Style

    Noha Ahmed Abd El Aziz. Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt. Landsc. Archit. Reg. Plan. 2017, 2(2), 51-60. doi: 10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12

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    AMA Style

    Noha Ahmed Abd El Aziz. Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt. Landsc Archit Reg Plan. 2017;2(2):51-60. doi: 10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12,
      author = {Noha Ahmed Abd El Aziz},
      title = {Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt},
      journal = {Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {51-60},
      doi = {10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.larp.20170202.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.larp.20170202.12},
      abstract = {The present study focuses on transforming leftover spaces and deserted streets into pocket parks, in order to enhance the quality of life in distressed neighborhoods. The aim of the study is to design a pocket park that meets the users’ needs and behaviors. The first step is to identify key design parameters for designing a successful pocket park, which would provide a space for recreation, socialization in addition to adding greenery to the condensed neighborhood. A space is selected in a high-density district, In Cairo City. The research methods included a survey of the physical environment, observation and a questionnaire. The local residents are asked to assess the current problems in the space, and express their priorities. Moreover, the participants suggested the design components of the new park and what types of activities should the park host. The findings show that safety, lighting, and maintenance are the main priorities for the nearby residents. Furthermore, the society’s social and cultural norms have a profound impact on the final product.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Pocket Park Design in Informal Settlements in Cairo City, Egypt
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    JF  - Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
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    AB  - The present study focuses on transforming leftover spaces and deserted streets into pocket parks, in order to enhance the quality of life in distressed neighborhoods. The aim of the study is to design a pocket park that meets the users’ needs and behaviors. The first step is to identify key design parameters for designing a successful pocket park, which would provide a space for recreation, socialization in addition to adding greenery to the condensed neighborhood. A space is selected in a high-density district, In Cairo City. The research methods included a survey of the physical environment, observation and a questionnaire. The local residents are asked to assess the current problems in the space, and express their priorities. Moreover, the participants suggested the design components of the new park and what types of activities should the park host. The findings show that safety, lighting, and maintenance are the main priorities for the nearby residents. Furthermore, the society’s social and cultural norms have a profound impact on the final product.
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Author Information
  • Urban Design Department, Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

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