Shaping Benghazi Center plan, Benghazi Center plan for the year 2014

Abstract

Urban design in the Arab world is now at a crossroads. Much traditional urban design has been lost, and while some city centers remain intact, the future of many of these is being threatened. It is the objective of this project to indicate how traditional design can be revived to lend character and identity to the modern city. More specifically, the go ls of this study are to provide a well-organized development framework to guide and control transformations in historic districts of the Benghazi's Center Area for the Year 2014, and to reduce pressures from the central business district on conservation areas by providing suitable expansion opportunities in areas reserved for that purpose. The process of arriving at the final proposal consists of the following three steps: (1) Examining literature concerning urban design, and through such material, adopting the series of guidelines that the planning and design approach of this project is based on; (2) A comprehensive survey of the historic fabric of the city,involving the collection of necessary information on historic value, physical condition, and land use. Along with this, an appraisal of existing conditions in the central business section was made; (3) After analyzing relevant literature and the actual condition of the center plan, the social and city planning requirements of an administrative center at an urban and regional level was determined. Then, the project was tested and the final proposal was presented.